NO-BOUNDARY THINKING IN BIOINFORMATICS

The following sections are included:Bioinformatics is a Mature DisciplineThe Golden Era of Bioinformatics Has BegunNo-Boundary Thinking in BioinformaticsReferences.

Abstract 2992: Analysis of divergent hypoxic gene expression data in prostate cancer cell lines suggests novel tumor progression biomarkers

Decreased oxygen tension which can be caused by isolation of solid tumor cells from vascularization is hypothesized to lead cause migration, adaptation, or death. These cellular endpoints require transcriptional regulation of genes that are involved in numerous metabolic and physiological processes. We hypothesize those differences in transcriptional regulation account for variation of cellular response to a hypoxic environment (i.e. metastasis). To test this hypothesis, we characterized the difference in hypoxic gene expression of two isogenic cell lines (LnCap and C4-2) which differ in metastatic potential. In three independent experiments, cell lines (LnCAP and C-42) were incubated in a hypoxic or normoxic environment and pathway analysis was performed on the list of genes whose expression was significantly different. Analysis of the divergent hypoxic gene expression data (i.e. 641 genes) supported significant changes in starch and sucrose pathways (i.e. UDP glucoronosyltransferases), and cardiac arteriolopathy (i.e. DPP4). Differences in gene expression (i.e. 300 genes) between LNCaP and C4-2 were noted under normoxic conditions and included genes related to cell cycle (i.e. CDKN1B, JUNB, and CYR61) and cell differentiation (i.e. ID2, ID3, and HBP1). C4-2 cells are much more metastatic than LNCaP cells from which they were derived. Differences in response to hypoxia may reflect a strategy used by the C4-2 cell line to escape or survive in a hypoxic environment. Transcript profiles may have prognostic or diagnostic value for distinguishing the propensity for prostate cells to metastasize, and those genes that assist in hypoxic survival of C4-2 may be therapeutic targets for PCa. Continued investigation will identify the contributions of these genes to the metastatic process and clarify the downstream transcriptional networks involved in this facet of tumor progression.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2992. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2992