Evaluation of MAGE-1 antigen in the serum of breast cancer patients and its correlation with prognostic factors

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the world. Melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) is one of the subfamilies of cancer testis antigens. The first member of the human MAGEfamily was identified as a gene encoding the tumor specific antigen. These genes are completely silent in natural tissues except for male germ cells and perhaps placenta. It is thought that this antigen is a promising candidate for the diagnosis of cancers. The aim of this study was to determine the level of MAGE-1 in serum samples of patients with breast cancer, and examine its relationship with other known prognostic factors, including hormone receptor status ER/PR (estrogen/progesterone) and HER2. Methods: Totally 78 patients with breast cancer at Omid University-Hospital in Mashhad were included the study. Serum samples were taken, after obtaining informed consent level of MAGE-1 was measured in the collected sera by a commercial ELISA kit according to manufacturer s instructions. Results: MAGE-1 was observed in 63 out of 78 patients (80%). There was as a significant relationship between MAGE-1 level and tumor staging (p=0.048): also, a statistically significant relationship was shown between MAGE-1 and estrogen receptor positivity (ER) (p=0.008). Conclusion: Serumic level of MAGE-1 showed a relationship with stage of tumors also a correlation was between MAGE-1 and ER positivity. These findings makes MAGE-1 a promising prognostic factor in breast cancer, though further studies with larger sample size still is recommended to confirm its prognostic role and possible clinical application

کلیدواژه ها:

Breast Cancer ، MAGE-1 ، ELISA