Methylation of the calcium channel regulatory subunit α2δ-3 (CACNA2D3) predicts site-specific relapse in oestrogen receptor-positive primary breast carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
Calcium is an important intracellular messenger that mediates many biological processes that are relevant to the malignant process. Calcium ion channels are key in controlling the intracellular calcium, and little is known about their role in human cancer.


METHODS
We used qPCR and pyrosequencing to investigate expression and epigenetic regulation of the calcium channel regulatory subunit α(2)δ-3 (CACNA2D3) in breast cancer cell lines, primary cancers and metastatic lesions.


RESULTS
Expression of CACNA2D3 mRNA is regulated in breast cancer cell lines by methylation in the CpG island located in the 5' regulatory region of the gene. Expression is upregulated by azacytidine (AZA) in cells with CpG island methylation but unaffected in cells lacking methylation. In primary breast carcinomas, methylation is more common in cancers, which subsequently relapse with loco-regional and, particularly, visceral metastatic disease in both oestrogen receptor-α (ER)-positive and -negative cases. Furthermore, CACNA2D3 CpG island is frequently methylated in breast cancer that has metastasised to the central nervous system.


CONCLUSIONS
Methylation-dependent transcriptional silencing of CACNA2D3 may contribute to the metastatic phenotype of breast cancer. Analysis of methylation in the CACNA2D3 CpG island may have potential as a biomarker for risk of development of metastatic disease.
Cancer Research UK Laboratories, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, Division of Cancer, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK. c.palmieri@imperial.ac.uk
C
C
Palmieri
B
B
Rudraraju
M
M
Monteverde
L
L
Lattanzio
O
O
Gojis
R
R
Brizio
O
O
Garrone
M
M
Merlano
N
N
Syed
C
C
Lo Nigro
T
T
Crook
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
C531012:CACNA2D3 protein, human; D015220:Calcium Channels; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D002118:Calcium