Thymosin beta15 expression in tumor cell lines with varying metastatic potential.

TitleThymosin beta15 expression in tumor cell lines with varying metastatic potential.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1998
AuthorsBao L, Loda M, Zetter BR
JournalClin Exp Metastasis
Volume16
Issue3
Pagination227-33
Date Published1998 Apr
ISSN0262-0898
KeywordsAnimals, Humans, Immunoenzyme Techniques, Lung Neoplasms, Male, Mice, Neoplasm Metastasis, Prostatic Neoplasms, Rats, RNA, Messenger, RNA, Neoplasm, Thymosin, Tumor Cells, Cultured
Abstract

We previously isolated thymosin beta15 from highly metastatic Dunning rat prostatic carcinoma cells. Immunohistochemical study of human prostate cancer specimens revealed a general correlation between Gleason grade and thymosin beta15 expression, with high-grade (more malignant) tumors showing increased staining compared to low-grade tumors. To determine whether thymosin beta15 may be differentially expressed in cancer cells with different metastatic potential other than in the prostatic carcinoma cells, we examined thymosin beta15 mRNA levels in tumor cell lines from different species. We also examined thymosin beta15 protein levels in human breast cancer samples. Thymosin beta15 was upregulated in the highly metastatic mouse lung and human breast cancer cell lines in comparison to the nonmetastatic counterparts. Immunohistochemical staining showed the evidence of upregulation of thymosin beta15 in malignant human breast carcinomas as compared to benign breast tumors. The expression of thymosin beta15 was correlated with the metastatic potential of the mouse lung carcinoma and human breast carcinoma cells in addition to the prostatic carcinomas. Thymosin beta15 may be a useful marker to predict metastatic potential of certain human cancers.

DOI10.1023/a:1006540824969
Alternate JournalClin Exp Metastasis
PubMed ID9568640
Grant ListCA37393 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
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