Abstract: Objective 　To investigate the expression of MAGE21, 3, 4 genes and the feasibility of genes en2 coding proteins used as a target for immunotherapy and immunological molecular markers in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) . Methods 　The expression of MA GE21, MA GE23 and MAGE24 genes f rom 65 samples with CRC and corresponding adjacent colonic mucosa tissues was detected by a reverse t ranscription poly2 merase chain reaction (RT2PCR) . The product s of the genes in RT2PCR were verified by DNA sequen2 cing. Results 　In 53. 8 % of tumor tissues examined in 65 CRC patient s, at least one MAGE gene was de2 tected, the f requencies were MA GE21, 18. 5 % (12/ 65), MAGE23, 33. 9 % ( 22/ 65), MA GE24, 20 % ( 13/65), respectively, and two or more at any of the three genes were in 27. 7 % ( 18/ 65 ) . Cont rastly, no MA GE gene expression was investigated in the corresponding adjacent mucoal tissues. The DNA sequen2 cing confirmed that the RT2PCR product s were t ruly target cDNA. The expression of the MA GE genes was not related to age (exception of MA GE21), gender, CEA, tumor size and location, differentiated grade, metastasis to lymph nodes, the depth of invasion, and TNM stage ( P > 0. 05) . Conclusion 　MAGE23 might be used as candidate gene of tumorous vaccine and immunological molecular markers for CRC, and has po2 tential value for immunotheraputical specific target, but MA GE21, 4 have little value for lower expression.