COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LYMPHATIC METASTASIS——ASSOCIATED GENES IN MOUSE HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA CELL LINES WITH DIFFERENT METASTATIC POTENTIAL

Objective： To investigate the neoplasm lymphatic metastasis-associated genes and its molecular mechanisms. Methods： 22690 mouse genome cDNA microarrays （including 14500 known genes and 4371 ESTs） were used to compare and analyze the gene expression profiles of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines Hca-F （highly lymphatic metastasis potential） and Hca-P （low potential）. Results： 901 genes and 129 ESTs were up-regulated at least 2-fold in Hca-F cell. 33 genes showing significant alterations in expression were presented, including endoglin （EDG）, MCAM, Cdc42ep5, F2r, D7Ertd458e, Serpin hl （HSP47）, AXL, Areg and so on. These genes have functions of angiogenesis, cell adhesion, signal transduction, cell motility, chaperone activity, protein kinase activity and receptor binding. Conclusion： cDNA microarray combined with lymphatic metastasis models might contribute new methods and clues to the neoplasm lymphatic metastasis research. Some overexpressed genes might provide novel clues to the molecular mechanisms of neoplasm lymphatic metastasis.