New p53 related genes in human tumors: significant downregulation in colon and lung carcinomas

M E LLeonart1, F Vidal, D Gallardo

  • 1Department of Pathology, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. melleona@ir.vhebron.net

Oncology Reports
|July 26, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Five genes regulating senescence and p53 function were investigated in human tumors. RPS6KA6, HDAC4, KIAA0828, and Tip60 showed downregulation in colon and lung carcinomas, suggesting their role as novel suppressor genes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Human carcinomas develop through multiple genetic alterations affecting cell growth, signaling, and invasiveness.
  • Cellular senescence evasion and immortalization are critical steps in tumor progression.
  • A recent screen identified five genes (RPS6KA6, HDAC4, KIAA0828, TCP1, Tip60) that modulate p53 function and senescence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential association of these five genes with human colon, prostate, and lung carcinomas.
  • To determine if the expression levels of these genes differ between tumor and normal tissues.

Main Methods:

  • RNA extraction from normal and tumor tissues of 20 patients each for colon, prostate, and lung carcinomas.
  • Real-time RT-PCR using TaqMan probes to quantify mRNA expression of RPS6KA6, HDAC4, KIAA0828, TCP1, Tip60, and p53.

Main Results:

  • Significant downregulation of RPS6KA6, HDAC4, KIAA0828, and Tip60 was observed in colon carcinomas compared to normal tissue (P < 0.001).
  • HDAC4, KIAA0828, and Tip60 were downregulated in lung carcinomas (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 respectively).
  • No significant differences were found in prostate carcinomas; however, RPS6KA6 and KIAA0828 were notably downregulated in colon tumors and KIAA0828 in a subset of lung tumors.

Conclusions:

  • The identified genes (RPS6KA6, HDAC4, KIAA0828, Tip60) may function as regulatory suppressor genes in human colon and lung tumors.
  • Altered mRNA expression of these genes could impact p53 function, the ras-MAPK pathway, methylation, and transcriptional programs.
  • These findings suggest a novel set of genes involved in the development of specific human carcinomas.

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