Analysis of the Electrophoretic Profiles of Prion Protein in Carcinous and Pericarcinous Lysates of Six Different Types of Cancers

Objective To find the different electrophoretic profiles of prion protein in carcinous and individual pericarcinous tissues in lysates of gastric,colon,liver,lung,thyroid,and laryngeal cancers.Methods Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE)and Western blot were used to test the amounts and electrophoretic patterns of total Pr P and the tolerance of PK(protease K)digestion among six various cancer tissue types.Results A mass of Pr P signals with a large molecular weight were identified in the homogenates of peripheral tissues.The amounts and electrophoretic patterns of total Pr P did not differ significantly between carcinous and pericarcinous tissues.Pr Ps in all types of the tested cancer samples were PK sensitive but showed diversity in the tolerance of PK digestion among various tissue types.Conclusions The study revealed that the included electrophoretic patterns of carcinous and pericarcinous tissues were almost similar.Unlike Pr P-specific immunohistochemical assay,evaluation of Pr P electrophoretic patterns in the peripheral organs and tissues by Western blot does not reflect tumor malignancy.