XAGE-1, a new gene that is frequently expressed in Ewing's sarcoma

Our previous expressed sequence tag database analysis indicates that XAGE-1 is frequently found in Ewing's sarcoma and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (U. Brinkmann et al., Cancer Res., 59: 1445-1448, 1999). Using Northern blots and RNA dot blots, we have now found that XAGE-1 is highly expressed in normal testis, in seven of eight Ewing's cell lines, in four of nine Ewing's sarcoma patient samples, and in one of one alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma patient sample. The gene is located on the X chromosome. The full-length cDNA contains 611 bp and predicts a protein of M(r) 16,300 with a potential transmembrane domain at the NH₂ terminus. XAGE-1 shares homology with GAGE/PAGE proteins in the COOH-terminal end. These findings could be valuable for cancer diagnosis and cancer immunotherapy.