Expression of MAGE tumour-associated antigens is inversely correlated with tumour differentiation in invasive ductal breast cancers: an immunohistochemical study

MAGE (Melanoma antigen E) family gene products encompass tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) recognised by human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted specific T-cells. Agents inducing DNA demethylation, an event typically detectable in cellular de-differentiation processes, were shown to induce the expr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology 2001-08, Vol.439 (2), p.127-131
Main Authors: KAVALAR, R, SARCEVIC, B, SPAGNOLI, G. C, SEPAROVIC, V, SAMIJA, M, TERRACCIANO, L, HEBERER, M, JURETIC, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Antigens, Neoplasm
Biological and medical sciences
Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis
Breast Neoplasms - classification
Breast Neoplasms - metabolism
Breast Neoplasms - pathology
Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - classification
Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - metabolism
Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - secondary
Cell Count
Cell Differentiation
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
Female
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Lymph Nodes - metabolism
Lymph Nodes - pathology
Lymphatic Metastasis
Mammary gland diseases
Medical sciences
Melanoma-Specific Antigens
Neoplasm Invasiveness - pathology
Neoplasm Proteins - immunology
Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism
Tumors
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Summary:MAGE (Melanoma antigen E) family gene products encompass tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) recognised by human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted specific T-cells. Agents inducing DNA demethylation, an event typically detectable in cellular de-differentiation processes, were shown to induce the expression of MAGE genes. By using a monoclonal antibody specific for MAGE family gene products, we have studied the expression of these TAAs in a group of 144 patients with invasive ductal breast cancers. Immunohistochemical data were correlated with tumour differentiation, lymphatic vessel invasion, oestrogen receptor expression, intratumoural necrosis, lymphocytic infiltration, perineural invasion, tumour microcalcifications and axillary lymph node metastases. MAGE immunoreactivity was undetectable in non-neoplastic cells. In poorly differentiated cancers positive staining was observed in 30/63 cases (47.6%) as compared with 13/51 (25.4%) and 5/30 (16.6%) in moderately and well-differentiated tumours, respectively (P
ISSN:0945-6317
1432-2307
DOI:10.1007/s004280100421