title: Relevant Networks involving the p53 Signalling Pathway in Renal Cell Carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. A better understanding of the critical pathways and interactions associated with alterations in renal function and renal tumour properties is required. Our final goal is to combine the knowledge provided by a regulatory network with experimental observations provided by the dataset.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, a systems biology approach was used, integrating immunohistochemistry protein expression profiles and protein interaction information with the STRING and MeV bioinformatics tools. A group consisting of 80 patients with renal cell carcinoma was studied. The expression of selected markers was assessed using tissue microarray technology on immunohistochemically stained slides. The immunohistochemical data of the molecular factors studied were analysed using a parametric statistical test, Pearson's correlation coefficient test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bioinformatics analysis of tumour samples resulted in 2 protein networks. The first network consists of proteins involved in the angiogenesis pathway and the apoptosis suppressor, BCL2, and includes both positive and negative correlations. The second network shows a negative interaction between the p53 tumour suppressor protein and the glucose transporter type 4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The comprehensive pathway network will help us to realise the cooperative behaviours among pathways. Regulation of metabolic pathways is an important role of p53. The pathway involving the tumour suppressor gene p53 could regulate tumour angiogenesis. Further investigation of the proteins that interact with this pathway in this type of tumour may provide new strategies for cancer therapies to specifically inhibit the molecules that play crucial roles in tumour progression.
authors.affiliation: INIBIC, CHU A Coruña. A Coruña, Spain;
authors.forename: V Medina
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Villaamil
authors.forename: G Aparicio
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.forename: I Santamarina
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Caínzos
authors.forename: L Valbuena
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Ruvira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valladares-Ayerbes
authors.forename: L M Antón
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Aparicio
keywords: glucose transporters; hypoxia; p53 pathway; protein interactions; relevant networks; renal cell carcinoma