MAGE-D4/MAGE-D4B Background Information MAGE-D4 (Melanoma-associated antigen D4, MAGE-E1 antigen) and MAGE-D4B (Melanoma-associated antigen D4B) are 741 amino acid proteins encoded by the human gene MAGED4 and MAGED4B, respectively. Genes of the MAGE family direct the expression of tumor antigens that are recognized on human melanomas by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes. MAGE-D4/MAGE-D4B are believed to be glioma-specific members of MAGE family. Among cancer cells, only in glioma cells are both isoforms of MAGE-D4/MAGE-D4B specifically expressed. Among normal tissues, MAGE-D4/MAGE-D4B are expressed only in brain and ovary. Although MAGE-D4/MAGE-D4B are expressed at high levels in malignant tumors as compared to normal tissue, MAGE-D4/MAGE-D4B protein expression is not considered to be of prognostic significance.
