Microarray analysis of Bmi-1 downstream genes in normal human oral keratinocytes.

Bmi-1 is a polycomb group oncogene highly overexpressed in premalignant and malignant oral lesions. Bmi-1 is believed to promote oral carcinogenesis in part by allowing normal cells to evade the senescence checkpoint and extending their replicative life span. To determine the mechanisms underlying the role of Bmi-1 in oral carcinogenesis, the authors performed microarray analysis in normal human oral keratinocytes, NHOK, overexpressing Bmi-1. The authors report here several potential target genes of Bmi-1.