Molecular detection of GAGE expression in peripheral blood and bone marrow: Utility as a tumor marker for neuroblastoma Journal Article


Authors: Cheung, I. Y.; Cheung, N. K. V.
Article Title: Molecular detection of GAGE expression in peripheral blood and bone marrow: Utility as a tumor marker for neuroblastoma
Abstract: The GAGE family of tumor-associated antigens is present in a wide spectrum of human tumors but is highly restricted among normal tissues except to the testis. By reverse transcription-PCR, GAGE expression was detected in 55 of 67 neuroblastomas (NBs; 8 of 12 stage 1, 13 of 13 stage 2, 9 of 12 stage 3, 7 of 12 stage 4S, and 18 of 18 stage 4), 5 of 5 Ewing's and peripheral neuroectodermal tumors, and 11 of 11 tumor cell lines (9 NBs, 1 peripheral neuroectodermal tumor, and 1 melanoma). In contrast, S of 6 normal tissues (normal testis was positive), 18 of 18 NB-negative bone marrow (BM; 9 normal, 6 non-NB remission, and 3 stage-2 NB), and 9 of 10 NB-negative peripheral blood (PB; 9 normal and 1 stage 2B) were undetectable. In 18 patients with widespread NB under treatment, GAGE expression in paired samples of BM and PB was 89% concordant. Both correlated strongly with disease measured by conventional methods, including marrow histology or immunocytology, bone scan, meta-iodo-benzylguanidlne scan, computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging, and urine vanillymandelic acid/homovanillic acid. When serial samples from 14 patients with stage 4 NB were studied, BM from 7 of 7 patients at diagnosis and 14 of 14 patients (25 samples) on treatment were positive for GAGE. Thirteen patients were in continual remission off therapy, and their GAGE expression (12 BM and 9 PB) was undetectable at follow-up. When compared to molecular detection of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA, GAGE may offer added sensitivity in detecting NB in both BM and PB. The GAGE family of antigens may be potential tumor markers of minimal residual disease.
Keywords: adult; clinical article; controlled study; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; follow up; brain neoplasms; neoplasm staging; diagnostic accuracy; sensitivity and specificity; polymerase chain reaction; melanoma; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; computer assisted tomography; gene expression; bone marrow; tumor markers, biological; tumor regression; tumor cells, cultured; tumor marker; ewing sarcoma; antigens, neoplasm; neuroblastoma; tyrosine 3 monooxygenase; minimal residual disease; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; reference values; (3 iodobenzyl)guanidine; remission; neuroectoderm tumor; chemoluminescence; humans; human; male; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Clinical Cancer Research
Volume: 3
Issue: 5
ISSN: 1078-0432
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research  
Date Published: 1997-05-01
Start Page: 821
End Page: 826
Language: English
PUBMED: 9815755
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 17 March 2017 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Nai-Kong Cheung
    650 Cheung
  2. Irene Y Cheung
    96 Cheung