title: CBX7 modulates the expression of genes critical for cancer progression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have previously shown that the expression of CBX7 is drastically decreased in several human carcinomas and that its expression progressively decreases with the appearance of a highly malignant phenotype. The aim of our study has been to investigate the mechanism by which the loss of CBX7 expression may contribute to the emergence of a more malignant phenotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the gene expression profile of a thyroid carcinoma cell line after the restoration of CBX7 and, then, analyzed the transcriptional regulation of identified genes. Finally, we evaluated the expression of CBX7 and regulated genes in a panel of thyroid and lung carcinomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that CBX7 negatively or positively regulates the expression of several genes (such as SPP1, SPINK1, STEAP1, and FOS, FOSB, EGR1, respectively) associated to cancer progression, by interacting with their promoter regions and modulating their transcriptional activity. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses in human thyroid and lung carcinoma tissues revealed a negative correlation between CBX7 and its down-regulated genes, while a positive correlation was observed with up-regulated genes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the loss of CBX7 expression might play a critical role in advanced stages of carcinogenesis by deregulating the expression of specific effector genes.
authors.affiliation: Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale (IEOS), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), c/o Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche (DMMBM), Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierlorenzo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pallante
authors.affiliation: Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale (IEOS), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), c/o Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche (DMMBM), Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sepe
authors.affiliation: Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale (IEOS), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), c/o Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche (DMMBM), Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.affiliation: Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale (IEOS), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), c/o Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche (DMMBM), Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Floriana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forzati
authors.affiliation: Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale (IEOS), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), c/o Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche (DMMBM), Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mimma
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.affiliation: Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale (IEOS), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), c/o Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche (DMMBM), Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fusco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018450:Disease Progression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C503627:CBX7 protein, human; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1