Chromosomal breaks at FRA18C: association with reduced DOK6 expression, altered oncogenic signaling and increased gastric cancer survival

Abstract

Gastric cancer: Chromosome rearrangement linked to less aggressive tumors Gastric tumors often harbor a chromosome abnormality that disrupts a key signaling gene, resulting in less aggressive cancers. Oi Lian Kon from the National Cancer Centre Singapore and colleagues searched for chromosomal rearrangements in 17 gastric cancer cell lines. The researchers discovered a recurrent breakpoint in six of the cell lines that mapped to a gene called DOK6, which encodes a protein that provides a docking platform for multiple signaling molecules. They also found the abnormality in 22 of 99 tissue samples taken from gastric cancer patients. This defect led to lower expression of DOK6 and, in turn, less active oncogenic signaling pathways. Patients with low DOK6-expressing gastric cancers lived longer on average than those with high DOK6-expressing tumors. The findings point to DOK6 levels as a potential drug target and diagnostic biomarker.