Identification of Genes Associated with Local Aggressiveness and Metastatic Behavior in Soft Tissue Tumors

• Published in: Translational oncology 2010-02, Vol.3 (1), p.23,IN1-32,IN5
• Main Authors: Cunha, Isabela Werneck, Carvalho, Katia Candido, Martins, Waleska Keller, Marques, Sarah Martins, Muto, Nair Hideko, Falzoni, Roberto, Rocha, Rafael Malagoli, Aguiar, Samuel, Simoes, Ana C.Q., Fahham, Lucas, Neves, Eduardo Jordão, Soares, Fernando Augusto, Reis, Luiz Fernando Lima
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1936-5233; 1936-5233
• DOI: 10.1593/tlo.09166

Soft tissue tumors represent a group of neoplasia with different histologic and biological presentations varying from benign, locally confined to very aggressive and metastatic tumors. The molecular mechanisms responsible for such differences are still unknown. The understanding of these molecular alterations mechanism will be critical to discriminate patients who need systemic treatment from those that can be treated only locally and could also guide the development of new drugs' against this tumors. Using 102 tumor samples representing a large spectrum of these tumors, we performed expression profiling and defined differentially expression genes that are likely to be involved in tumors that are locally aggressive and in tumors with metastatic potential. We described a set of 12 genes (SNRPD3, MEGF9, SPTAN-1, AFAP1L2, ENDOD1, SERPIN5, ZWINTAS, TOP2A, UBE2C, ABCF1, MCM2, and ARL6IP5) showing opposite expression when these two conditions were compared. These genes are mainly related to cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions and cell proliferation and might represent helpful tools for a more precise classification and diagnosis as well as potential drug targets.