MAGE-A3/6 Background Information The melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) family consists of a number of antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The MAGE genes were initially isolated from different kinds of tumors, and based on their virtually exclusive tumor-specific expression in adult tissues, they have been used as targets for cancer immunotherapy. MAGE genes encode for tumor-rejection antigens and are expressed in tumors of different histologic types, but not in normal tissues, with the exception of testis and placenta. Although a large number of MAGE genes have now been identified and extensively studied in tumors of various origin, their function in normal cells remains unknown.
