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Methylated promoters of genes encoding protocadherins as a new cancer biomarker family

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Abstract

Protocadherins are a major subfamily of the cadherin superfamily. Their functions and intracellular signal transduction are poorly understood, although some have been explored in nervous system development. However, recent researches have shown that protocadherins frequently act as tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) and inactivation of these genes through promoter methylation is closely correlated with tumor development. Furthermore, these methylated protocadherins may serve as tumor biomarkers in various body fluids, stool and scrapings not only for early cancer diagnosis, but also for assessing prognosis and monitoring response to therapy. Thus, methylated promoters of genes encoding protocadherins show promise as a new cancer biomarker family.

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Abbreviations

TSGs:

Tumor suppressor genes

PCDHs:

Protocadherins

PCDH-γ-A11:

Protocadherin-γ subfamily A11

NPC:

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

HL:

Hodgkin lymphoma

GC:

Gastric cancer

PAPC:

Paraxial protocadherinNSCLC non–small-cell lung cancer

NSCLC:

Non-small-cell lung cancer

ESCC:

Esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma

5-ASA:

5-aminosalicylic acid

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No. 30770920 and 81071651) and Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No. R2100213, 2009C33142, Z2090056 and WKJ2009-2-028).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Research Center and Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Zhejiang Province, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310016, China

    Xinbing Sui, Shumin Geng, Gongli Zhou, Chao He & Xiaotong Hu

  2. Department of Colorectal Surgery and Biomedical Research Center, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310016, China

    Xinbing Sui, Da Wang, Shumin Geng, Gongli Zhou & Chao He

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  1. Xinbing Sui
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  2. Da Wang
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Correspondence to Chao He or Xiaotong Hu.

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Sui, X., Wang, D., Geng, S. et al. Methylated promoters of genes encoding protocadherins as a new cancer biomarker family. Mol Biol Rep 39, 1105–1111 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-011-0837-8

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