OBJECTIVE(1) To investigate the expression and gene diversity of the 7 major cancer/testis (CT) antigens, MAGE-1, MAGE-3, MAGE-4, MAGE-10, NY-ESO-1, SSX-2 and SCP-1, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). (2) To analyze the correlations between the clinical characters and CT antigens' expression.

METHODSThe cancer and para-cancer tissues were collected from 30 HCC patients. The mRNAs of seven CT antigens were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with the specific primers. The PCR products were sequenced to analyze the CT genes.

RESULTSThe MAGE-1, MAGE-3, MAGE-4, MAGE-10, NY-ESO-1, SSX-2 and SCP-1 were expressed in 66.7%, 70.0%, 20.0%, 36.7%, 40.0%, 33.3% and 33.3% of the tumor tissues from HCC patients respectively, however, they were not expressed in the para-cancer tissues. Among the 30 patients investigated, 90.0% expressed one CT gene at least, 70.0% expressed two CT genes, and 53.3% expressed three CT genes of the seven CT genes. The coding genes of these CT antigens were highly conserved between in Chinese patients and patients abroad. There were discernible correlations between alpha-fetoprotein level and MAGE-10 or SCP-1 expression level, as well as between average age and MAGE-3 or SSX-2 expression levels (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWith a highly conserved coding gene, seven CT antigens were expressed in 20.0% - 70.0% of Chinese HCC patients. CT antigens' expression had correlations with some clinical characters.