Methylation of the genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins and transmembrane receptors in breast cancer

Abstract

To understand mechanisms of interaction between extracellular matrix proteins and transmembrane receptors, as well as their role in maintaining the structure and function of breast tissue in norm and in cancer, an important issue is to determine the contribution of changes in the expression of these proteins to the processes of development, growth, invasion and metastasis of breast cancer. Studies of the methylation status of genes encoding laminins, nidogens, integrins, cadherins, matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in normal and tumor tissues are necessary to determine the roles of these genes and the mechanisms of their regulation in cancer. We have studied methylation status of these genes in normal and tumor tissues of the mammary gland in order to search for epigenetic markers associated with the clinical and morphological characteristics of the tumors.