title: CMV-induced pathology: pathway and gene-gene interaction analysis.
abstract: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most prevalent malignant tumor in major and minor salivary glands (SGs). We have recently identified human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) as a principle component in the multifactorial causation of SG-MEC. This finding is corroborated by the ability of the purified mouse CMV (mCMV) to induce malignant transformation of SG cells in a three-dimensional in vitro mouse model, using a similar oncogenic signaling pathway. Our prior studies indicate that the core tumor microenvironment (TME) is a key regulator of pathologic progression, particularly the cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) component. Studies of early CAFs immunodetect aberrant expression of ECM components, as well as multiple growth factors, cytokines and transcription factors. Here we present the mechanistic insight derived from a mathematical structure ("wiring diagram") used to model complex relationships between a highly relevant (p=9.43×10(-12)) global "cancer network" of 32 genes and their known links. Detailed characterization of the functional architecture of the examined "cancer network" exposes the critical crosstalk and compensatory pathways that limit the efficacy of targeted anti-kinase therapies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Developmental Genetics, USC, 925 W 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641, USA. Electronic address: mmelnick@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melnick
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Developmental Genetics, USC, 925 W 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641, USA. Electronic address: krysta.arwen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Krysta A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Deluca
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Developmental Genetics, USC, 925 W 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641, USA. Electronic address: tjaskoll@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaskoll
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000235:genetics; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib
keywords: Cell signaling; Pathway analysis; Salivary gland; Tumor microenvironment