Analysis of the molecular mechanism of cancer progression

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Tumor progression is the process by which tumor cells acquire more malignant properties, such as invasiveness and metastasis, during tumor development. To elucidate mechanisms of tumor progression, we carried out a differential display analysis to evaluate mRNAs differentially expressed between ER-1 cells which are weakly tumorigenic and non-metastatic, and ERpP cells which are strong tumorigenic and metastatic. The expression levels of five known genes, such as, nm23, thrombospondin 1 (THBS1), GRP78, lysosomal membrane glycoprotein (lamp-2), GATA-3, and unknown gene 18c were strongly increased in ERpP cells. Furthermore, THBS1, lamp-2, GATA-3 and human 18c was increased in malignant human colon cancer cells, as same as in ERpP. Northern blot analysis showed that human 18c strongly expressed in lung tumor, while weakly expressed in breast, ovary, and uterus tumors, respectively. In kidney, stomach and colon tumors, human 18c little expressed. This result indicates that human 18c gene will be useful as a marker gene for lung tumor.