title: Early expression of the Helicase-Like Transcription Factor (HLTF/SMARCA3) in an experimental model of estrogen-induced renal carcinogenesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Helicase-Like Transcription Factor (HLTF/SMARCA3) belongs to the family of SWI/SNF proteins that use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to remodel chromatin in a variety of cellular processes. Several SWI/SNF genes are disrupted in cancer, suggesting a role of tumor suppressor. Similarly, the HLTF gene was recently found to be inactivated by hypermethylation in a number of advanced colon and gastric tumors. However, other evidences indicated a 20-fold HLTF overexpression in cell lines derived from various neoplasms (ovary, breast, cervix, kidney...).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, we investigated HLTF expression by immunohistochemistry in a model of kidney tumors induced by continuous administration of diethylstilbestrol to male Syrian golden hamsters. A strong labeling was already detected in small tumor buds, making HLTF an early cancer marker in this model. Although every cell stained for HLTF at this early stage, the number of HLTF-positive cells decreased to 10% with cancer progression, and these positive cells were dispersed in the tumor mass. HLTF expression was conserved in the HKT-1097 cell line established from kidney tumors, but again only 10% of positive cells were found in xenografts produced by HKT-1097 cells in nude mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, our data suggest that HLTF gene activation is linked to initial steps of carcinogenesis in this model and should be investigated in early stages of other neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Mons-Hainaut, Mons, Belgium. gael.debauve@umh.ac.be
authors.forename: Gaël
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Debauve
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nonclercq
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ribaucour
authors.forename: Murielle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiedig
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerbaux
authors.forename: Oberdan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Leo
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Journé
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belayew
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toubeau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D006224:Cricetinae; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004967:Estrogens; C100023:HLTF protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D004265:DNA Helicases