BACKGROUNDMelanoma antigen genes (MAGE) are tumor specific genes. The aim of this study is to explore the feasibility of MAGE genes detection as a diagnostic method for malignant pleural effusion.

METHODSThe expression of MAGE-1, -2, -3 and -4 mRNA was detected in 18 benign and 22 malignant pleural effusion samples by RT-PCR.

RESULTSNo MAGE gene expressed in the 18 cases of benign pleural effusion. Out of the 22 cases of malignant pleural effusion, 8 cases were positive by cytological examination, who all showed positive expression of MAGA genes; in the other 14 patients who were positive by pleural biopsy but negative by cytological examination, 11 cases showed positive expression of MAGE genes in both the pleural effusion and pleura samples, while the other 3 cases showed negative MAGE expression in both the pleural effusion and pleura samples.

CONCLUSIONSDetection of MAGE genes in pleural effusion may be an effective method in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pleural effusion.