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Genetic research

Oncogenic Driver Gene SHFM1 Identified in Gastric Cancer

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted by Yonsei University has discovered a key driver gene, SHFM1, in gastric cancer. The study, published in Cellular Signalling, found that SHFM1 is over-expressed in primary gastric tumors and cell lines, and plays a crucial role in the development of gastric cancer. SHFM1 was found to confer cell cycle progression and resistance to p53 stabilizing drugs in gastric cancer cells. Furthermore, SHFM1 was found to activate key signaling pathways, including Src, MAPK/ERK, and PI3K/Akt.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 7q21.12-q223 genomic amplification is frequent in gastric cancers, occurring in approximately 10% of patients, and has not yet been completely analyzed towards identifying driver genes and their functional contribution in oncogenesis.
  • Among the 159 genes of this amplicon, 12 genes are found over-expressed in primary gastric tumors and cell lines, with many showing a negative association with p53 transcriptional activity.
  • RNAi-based functional screening of the genes reveals SHFM1 as a key gastric cancer driver gene, which confers cell cycle progression and resistance to p53 stabilizing drugs in gastric cancer cells.
  • SHFM1 activates Src, MAPK/ERK, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, which are critical in cancer development and progression.
  • The study demonstrates the potential oncogenic candidacy of 12 genes, including SHFM1, in gastric cancer.
  • The research highlights the importance of SHFM1 in gastric cancer and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Statistics:

  • 7q21.12-q223 genomic amplification is frequent in gastric cancers, occurring in approximately 10% of patients.
  • Among the 159 genes of this amplicon, 12 genes are found over-expressed in primary gastric tumors and cell lines.
  • SHFM1 is a key driver gene of gastric cancer, which confers cell cycle progression and resistance to p53 stabilizing drugs in gastric cancer cells.
  • SHFM1 activates Src, MAPK/ERK, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, which are critical in cancer development and progression.

Sources:

  • Upregulated, 7q21-22 amplicon candidate gene SHFM1 confers oncogenic advantage by suppressing p53 function in gastric cancer, published in Cellular Signalling, 2015;27(6):1075-1086.
  • Cellular Signalling, 2015;27(6), available at: Elsevier Science Inc, 360 Park Ave South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA.
  • Yonsei University, Coll Med, Dept. of Internal Med, Yonsei Canc CenterYonsei Canc Res Inst, Seoul, South Korea.

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