New Suppressor of Common Liver Cancer

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214173514.htm

New Suppressor of Common Liver Cancer

ScienceDaily (Jan. 1, 2010) — Tumor suppressor genes make proteins that help

control cell growth. Mutations in these genes that generate nonfunctional

proteins can contribute to tumor development and progression. One of the most

well-known tumor suppressor genes is BRACA1, mutations in which are linked to

breast cancer.

Ze-Guang Han and colleagues, at the Chinese National Human Genome Center at

Shanghai, People's Republic of China, have now identified SCARA5 as a candidate

tumor suppressor gene in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a form of liver

cancer that is the fifth most common cancer worldwide.

The research is reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

While it has been known for a long time that genetic inactivation of tumor

suppressor genes can contribute to tumor development and progression, only more

recently has it been determined that inactivating tumor suppressor genes by a

mechanism known as epigenetic silencing has the same effect.

In the study, analysis of HCC tissue samples indicted that SCARA5 was frequently

subjected to genetic loss and epigenetic silencing and that SCARA5 protein

downregulation was most marked in HCC tissue samples characterized by tumor

invasion into the blood vessels (a sign of aggressive disease). Further analysis

in HCC cells lines in vitro and after xenotransplantation into mice were

consistent with SCARA5 being a tumor suppressor gene.

The authors therefore suggest that SCARA5 protein downregulation as a result of

SCARA5 genetic loss and epigenetic silencing can contribute to HCC tumor

development and progression.

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Story Source:

Adapted from materials provided by Journal of Clinical Investigation, via

EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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Journal Reference:

1.Jian Huang, Da-Li Zheng, Feng-Song Qin, Na Cheng, Hui Chen, Bing-Bing Wan,

Yu-Ping Wang, Hua-Sheng Xiao and Ze-Guang Han. Genetic and epigenetic silencing

of SCARA5 may contribute to human hepatocellular carcinoma by activating FAK

signaling. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2009; [link]

Journal of Clinical Investigation (2010, January 1). New suppressor of common

liver cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 2, 2010, from

http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2009/12/091214173514.htm