title: Expression analysis of angiogenesis-related genes in Bulgarian patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Angiogenesis is a key process in the early stages of tumor development. In this study we aimed to evaluate the expression of a panel of angiogenesis-related genes in a group of Bulgarian patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the expression of 84 genes associated with the angiogenic process in 12 NSCLCs of two histological subtypes: 7 adenocarcinomas and 5 squamous cell carcinomas. Eight peripheral nontumorous tissues were used as controls. We performed real-time PCR on pathway-specific gene arrays (SABiosciences).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our pilot study identified upregulated genes in early-stage NSCLC including growth factors (TGFA and EFNA3), the adhesion molecule THBS2, cytokines and chemokines (MDK, CXCL9, CXCL10), and the serine protease PLAU. Several genes showed downregulation including one growth factor (FIGF), the receptors for growth factors TEK and S1PR1 as well as adhesion molecules (COL4A3 and CDH5), the cytokine IL6, the matrix protein LEP and the transcription factor NOTCH4. The study demonstrated deregulated genes specific for the two histological subtypes including the transcription factor HAND2, which was overexpressed in squamous cell carcinomas but not adenocarcinomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the limited number of patients, our results demonstrated the potential of angiogenesis-related genes as biomarkers in the early stages of NSCLC development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria. svetlana.metodieva@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Svetlana Nikolova
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Metodieva
authors.forename: Dragomira Nikolaeva
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Nikolova
authors.forename: Radostina Vlaeva
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Cherneva
authors.forename: Ivanka Istalianova
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Dimova
authors.forename: Danail Borisov
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Petrov
authors.forename: Draga Ivanova
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Toncheva
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D002031:Bulgaria; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics; D018925:Chemokines / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases