Expression of the matrix Gla protein in urogenital malignancies.
Matrix Gla protein (MGP), is a vitamin-K-dependent protein which is synthesized in a variety of tissues such as lung, heart, kidney, cartilage and bone. The function of MGP in these tissues is unclear. We have previously reported elevated MGP mRNA levels in a breast-cancer cell line, 600PEI, as compared to normal breast epithelium. Here we describe high MGP expression in primary renal-cell carcinomas, prostate carcinomas and testicular germ-cell tumors, as determined by Northern analysis. MGP was over-expressed in 21 out of 28 patients with renal-cell carcinoma, and in 16 out of 29 patients with testicular germ-cell tumors, as compared to matched normal tissues. For the renal-cell carcinomas, a statistically significant inverse correlation was observed between the level of MGP expression and tumor size, lymph-node metastasis and tumor grade. MGP was also highly expressed in 13 primary prostatic carcinomas as compared to prostate cell lines derived from metastatic tumors, and to lymph-node metastasis. Our findings indicate that the loss of MGP expression may be associated wih tumor progression and metastasis.
Levedakou
E N
EN
Department of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
Strohmeyer
T G
TG
Effert
P J
PJ
Liu
E T
ET
D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015675:Osteocalcin