Genetic, epigenetic and transcriptional comparison of esophagus tumor ‑associated and adjacent normal myofibroblasts.

Genetic, epigenetic and transcriptional comparison of esophagus tumor‑associated and adjacent normal myofibroblasts. Oncol Rep. 2018 Dec 06;: Authors: Huliák I, Bodai L, Czepán M, Kovács D, Szabó A, Tiszlavicz L, Lázár G, Rakonczay Z, Hegyi P, Boros IM, Kiricsi M Abstract Myofibroblasts (MFs) are present in healthy tissues and are also key components of the tumor microenvironment. In the present study a comparative analysis of MFs obtained from various gastrointestinal tumor tissues and from tumor‑adjacent normal tissues of cancer patients was performed, with the aim to evaluate differences in MF morphology, gene expression profile and function. The goal was to correlate the observed morphological and functional variations with the underlying genetic and epigenetic backgrounds. The mutation frequency of MFs was assessed by next generation sequencing. The transcript levels of cancer‑specific genes were determined by TaqMan array and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Epigenetic modifications were analyzed by immunocytochemistry and western blotting. The migratory capacity of MFs was assessed by scratch assay, whereas matrix metalloproteinase expression and activity were obtained by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and zymography. The results of the present study demonstrate that MFs were present in an increased number and with altered morphology in tumor samples compared with the healthy tissue. Although the det...
Source: Oncology Reports - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Oncol Rep Source Type: research