Klin Onkol 2008; 21(Suppl 1): 223-226.
The human MAGE gene family which is a group of „cancer/testis antigens“ (CTA) encodes products that can be recognized by autologous cytotoxic T cells. CT antigens are expressed in several malignant tumors, but not in normal tissues except for testis and placenta. CT antigens are frequently expressed in MM and represents promising candidates for cancer- specifi c immunotherapy in multiple myeloma. An obvious correlation between the expression of these genes and the stage of the disease has been observed. We examined the expression of MAGE-A1 and MAGE-A3 in bone marrow in a group of patiens with monoclonal gammapathy and in patients with early and advanced stage of the multiple myeloma.
