The expression of MAGE and SSX, and correlation of COX2, VEGF, and survivin in colorectal cancer.

AIM/PURPOSE We investigated the expression of melanoma-associated antigen gene (MAGE), human synovial sarcoma on X chromosome (SSX) and their clinical implications in sporadic colon cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fresh tissue samples from 37 patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas were analyzed for MAGE and SSX mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and their paraffin-embedded tissues were used for immunohistochemistry for cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and survivin. RESULTS Expression of MAGE and SSX was not detected in normal tissues. Colon cancer expressed SSX in 32.4% and MAGE in 51.4% of cases. Co-expression of MAGE and SSX was directly correlated with liver metastasis (p=0.024) and also correlated with nuclear expression of survivin (p=0.016), yet did not correlate with expression of COX2 and VEGF. Nuclear survivin expression (83.3%) was found in the cancer tissues exclusively. No significant relationships between the expression of COX2 (73.9%) and VEGF (72.4%) and other clinicopathologic variables were found. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that nuclear expression of survivin, lymph node metastasis, vascular and perineural invasion, and co-expression of MAGE and SSX may be associated with the metastasis of colorectal cancer to the liver.