Author of

• 11454

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  P2.01 - Poster Session 2 - Cancer Biology (ID 145)

  • Event: WCLC 2013
  • Type: Poster Session
  • Track: Biology
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 10/29/2013, 09:30 - 16:30, Exhibit Hall, Ground Level

  • 11462

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    P2.01-008 - Significance of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in the Regulation of Gene Expression in the Leading Cells of Invasive Lung Cancer (ID 768)

    09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): J. An
    • Abstract

    Background
    Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) contribute to cancer progression through multiple pathways.

    Methods
    Here we comprehensively compared gene expression in lung cancer cells cultured with conditioned medium from lung CAFs and normal lung fibroblasts by cDNA microarray analysis.

    Results
    The expression of many genes was up-regulated in cancer cells by CAFs’ conditioned medium, particularly cell adhesion molecules integrins and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Additional analysis indicated that the expression of integrins seems to be upstream of that of Bcl-2. We identified transforming growth factor-β as a candidate factor that induces the expression of those genes in cancer cells. Immunohistochemical studies on clinical lung cancer tissues revealed that integrins and Bcl-2 are more highly expressed in the leading cells, but not the following cells, at the invasive front of cancer nests, which are adjacent to or in proximity to the stroma. Furthermore, the expression of integrins and Bcl-2 in the leading cells was correlated with the clinical stages of cancer progression including lymph node metastasis.

    Conclusion
    In conclusion, our results suggest that CAFs promote lung cancer progression partly through the direct regulation of gene expression in the leading cells of invasive cancer nests.