Expression of the ATF3 gene on cell lines and surgically excised specimens.

摘要

TI-241 (ATF3 homologue gene) is a metastasis-associated gene that is expressed at higher levels in the high-metastatic mouse B16 melanoma subline B16-FIO than in the low-metastatic clone Fl. We studied ATF3 expression in established cell lines of human colon and stomach cancer and surgically excised human colon cancer. ATF3 was expressed at higher levels in the cell lines that were established from metastatic sites than in those from original tumor sites. Also ATF3 was expressed at higher levels in tumor specimens than in adjacent normal mucosa. especially in the tumors that had invaded the lymphatic ducts and/or the vessels, while there was not a significant relationship hetween its expression and the other pathological features. As metastasis is the most important factor in determining prognosis, these results show the potential for ATF3 in making the prognosis.