mRNA Expression of the Cancer-testis Antigens SSX1 and SSX4 in Human Hepatocellular Carcinomas

摘要

Objective: To detect the mRNA expression of the cancer-testis antigens (CT) SSX1 and SSX4 gene in human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and to investigate the specificity of their expression in HCCs. Methods: The mRNA expression of SSX1 and SSX4 in HCC tissues and the corresponding nearby liver tissues in 35 cases was detected by using RT-PCR; Six positive RT-PCR products were randomly selected and sequenced. Results: In all 35 HCC tissues, SSX1 in 27 cases (81%) and SSX4 in 23 cases (73%) were detected, and their expression was negative in the liver tissues nearby HCC and the non-tumor liver tissues (12 cirrhotic tissues and 15 normal tissues). In all 6 cases selected randomly, the results of DNA sequencing were identical with the cDNA sequence of SSX1 and SSX4 genes. The SSX1. SSX4 mRNA expression was not significantly correlated with age, sex, the tumor size, the level of tumor differentiation, the serum AFP level and the infection rate of HBV and HCV respectively (P>0.05). Conclusion: The SSX1, SSX4 mRNA expression was greatly specific in HCCs, which would not only provide the ideal target molecular sites for HCC tumor vaccines, but also establish the potential value of the polyvalent tumor-antigen vaccines for HCC therapy and its theory bases.