Cancer-testis genes mRNA presence in tumor lesion and peripheral blood of endometrial cancer patients

Abstract

Background. Cancer-testicular (CT) genes express in tumor cells in many cancers, including endometrial cancer (ER). CT genes mRNA was detected in the blood of patients with neoplasms, which determines the prospects of using CT gene mRNA as tumor-associated biomarkers. In the peripheral blood of patients with ER, the expression of CT genes has not been studied before.Objective. Аssessment of occurrence of mRNA of the CT genesMAGEA1–MAGEA6 (MAGEA(1–6)), SSX1, 2, 4, XAGE1, MAGEC1, NY-ESO1in the tumors and peripheral blood of patients with ER.Materials and methods. The work used 52 samples of tumor and 54 samples of whole peripheral blood of patients 39–79 years old diagnosed with RE who were treated in clinics in Nizhny Novgorod, as well as the blood of 30 healthy volunteers. In blood and tumors, the frequency of occurrence of mRNA of 12 CT genes was determined using multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Results. It has been shown that the mRNA of the tested CT genes is detected in ER not only in tumors, but also in the peripheral blood of patients. The most common mRNA isMAGEA(1–6). At the same time, both in tumors and in the peripheral blood of patients, high heterogeneity in the expression of CT genes detected. Moreover, cases ofMAGEA(1–6), SSX1, 2, 4, XAGE1, NY-ESO1, MAGEC1mRNA detection in tumors were revealed in the absence of their detection in the peripheral blood and conversely. The total frequency ofMAGEA(1–6), SSX1, 2, 4, XAGE1, NY-ESO1, MAGEC1mRNA occurrence in tumors was 75.0 %, and in peripheral blood – 44.6 %. As in tumors, most blood samples showed expression of only one CT gene. Only in some cases the expression of two or three genes was recorded. Note that in all blood samples of healthy volunteers mRNA CT genes was not detected. Additionally, mixed form of macroscopic growth (both exophytic and endophytic), growth along the uterine fundus and walls, as well as low degree of differentiation were followed by a higher mRNA CT genes occurrence in the blood and tumors.Conclusion. In ER mRNA CT genes occur in the blood and tumors of patients. A more severe course of ER is associated with an increase in the incidence of mRNA CT genes.