A bicistronic CYCLIN D1-TROP2 mRNA chimera demonstrates a novel oncogenic mechanism in human cancer.

A chimeric CYCLIN D1-TROP2 mRNA was isolated from human ovarian and mammary cancer cells. The CYCLIN D1-TROP2 mRNA was shown to be a potent oncogene as it transforms naïve, primary cells in vitro and induces aggressive tumor growth in vivo in cooperation with activated RAS. Silencing of the chimeric mRNA inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells.

Protocol for high-sensitivity/long linear-range spectrofluorimetric DNA quantification using ethidium bromide.

Ethidium bromide (EtBr) is the most widely used fluorescent dye in nucleic acid gel electrophoresis since decades. However it has been essentially forgotten in DNA quantification by spectrofluorimetry. While investigating sensitivity and dynamic range of available fluorochromes, we found that EtBr permits much more sensitive fluorimetric measurements than previously thought.

Trop-1 are conserved growth stimulatory molecules that mark early stages of tumor progression.

Background: Trop-1 is a cell-cell adhesion regulatory molecule that is overexpressed by a large fraction of tumors in man.

Methods: To identify fundamental, conserved functional features of Trop-1 in transformed cells, a search was performed for evolutionarily conserved structure, expression patterns, and function by gene cloning, DNA array and serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), Northern and Western blotting, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry of sequential stages of tumor progression in experimental systems and in man.

Results: TROP1 genes demonstrate conserved structure and promoter regions with parallel expression patterns (high expression in the small intestine and colon; lower expression in prostate, thyroid, salivary glands, breast, kidney, lung, liver, and spleen; very low levels in skin and stomach; no expression in heart, muscle, and brain).