上皮型钙黏蛋白基因甲基化与消化系肿瘤

Methylation of E-cadherin gene and digestive tumors

上皮型钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin,E-cad)基因位于染色体16q22.1,它编码的E-cad蛋白是一种钙依赖性黏附分子,分布于各类上皮细胞,在维持细胞的极性和完整性方面起重要作用。近年来大量研究表明,E-cad基因启动子区5'CpG岛的高甲基化可导致基因功能丧失,并与多种肿瘤尤其是消化系肿瘤的增殖、侵袭或转移密切相关。

E-cadherin gene is located on human chromosome 16q22.1 ,encoding the Ecad protein which plays a crucial role in maintenance of epithelial morphology. Recent research has shown that the hypermethylation of E-cad gene promoter region is closely related to the carcinogenesis and progression of the digestive tumors.