Gene Expression Profiling Identified High-mobility Group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) as Being Frequently Upregulated in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Leo C. M. Cheung *
Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
Leo C. M. Cheung
Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
Kenneth K. Y. Lai
Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
Alfred K. Y. Lam
Department of Pathology, Griffith Medical School, Griffith University, Australia.
Johnny C. O. Tang
Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, PRC.
John M. Luk
Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
Nikki P. Lee
Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
Yvonne Chung
Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
Daniel K. H. Tong
Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
Simon Law *
Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the most deadly malignancies worldwide and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most frequent type.
Methods: We identified up-regulated genes from gene expression profiles of HKESC-4 cell line, its parental tumor tissues, non-tumoral esophageal epithelia and lymph nodes with metastatic carcinoma using Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 microarray.
Results: Four genes [High-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2), paternally expressed 10 (PEG10), SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 2 (SHANK2) and WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 3 (WISP3)] were selected for further validation with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in a panel of ESCC cell lines and clinical specimens. HMGA2 was found to be overexpressed in the panel of ESCC cell lines tested. By using immunohistochemistry, HMGA2 was found to be up-regulated in 70% of ESCC tissues (21 out of 30 cases).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates successful use of gene microarray to identify and reveal HMGA2 as a novel and consistently overexpressed gene in ESCC cell lines and clinical samples.
Keywords: Esophageal cancer, microarray, HMGA2, PEG10, SHANK2, WISP3.