title: Elevated levels of G-quadruplex formation in human stomach and liver cancer tissues.
abstract: Four-stranded G-quadruplex DNA secondary structures have recently been visualized in the nuclei of human cultured cells. Here, we show that BG4, a G-quadruplex-specific antibody, can be used to stain DNA G-quadruplex structures in patient-derived tissues using immunohistochemistry. We observe a significantly elevated number of G-quadruplex-positive nuclei in human cancers of the liver and stomach as compared to background non-neoplastic tissue. Our results suggest that G-quadruplex formation can be detected and measured in patient-derived material and that elevated G-quadruplex formation may be a characteristic of some cancers.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biffi
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tannahill
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Howat
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004247:DNA