Expression Of Two Cancer/Testis Antigen Genes In Retinoblastoma

Objective:To detect the mRNA expression of two CTAs(NY-ESO-1, MAGE-A1)in retinablastoma(RB)and investigate the possibility of applying these antigens as the target antigens for RB specific immunotherapy.Methods:With reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),the mRNA expression ofNY-ESO-1,MAGE-A1 in 15 cases of RB tissues,12 cases of nontumorous retina tissues and 22 cases of normal ocular region tissues was detected.Samples selected randomly from PCR positive products of each CTA were directly sequenced.The results of expression and related clinical parameters were analyzed with statistic analysis software.Results:Among 15 cases of RB tissues,NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A1 mRNA were detected in 40%(6/15),33.33%(5/15)respectively,there are significant differences in the expressive frequency of these two CTAs between cases of RB and cases of nontumorous retina tissues(P＜0.05),also between cases of RB and cases of normal ocular region tissues(P＜0.05).None of these two CTAs can be detected in the 12 cases of nontumorous retina tissues and 22 cases of normal ocular region tissues.9 cases of RB tissues(60%)were detected at least one of these two CTAs.The results of DNA sequencing confirmed that the RT-PCR products were true target cDNA.No relationship was found between the expression of these two CTAs genes and related clinical parameters(P＞0.05).Conclusion:With expressive frequency in RB,which is almost equivalency in other tumor all over the body and is significant higher than that of nontumorous retina tissues and normal ocular region tissues,NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A1 might be a potential target antigens for specific immunotherapy of RB.