B-Melanoma Antigen (BAGE)

Members of the MAGE, GAGE, and BAGE gene families encode antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. These antigens are also known as CT antigens for their expression in cancer cells and testis.BAGE, encoding a 43-amino acid peptide unrelated to the MAGE family. Southern blot analysis indicated that BAGE belongs to a family of several related genes. Northern analysis of polyA(+) RNA from MZ2-MEL.43 cells identified a 1-kb and a 2.4-kb transcript. Similar to other CT antigen genes, expression of BAGE in normal tissues was observed only in adult testis. BAGE was expressed in 22% of melanomas, 30% of infiltrating bladder carcinomas, 10% of mammary carcinomas, 8% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, and 6% of non-small cell lung carcinomas.