A novel member of the NF2/ERM/4.1 superfamily with growth suppressing properties in lung cancer

A novel putative tumor suppressor gene and member of the NF2/ERM/ 4.1 super family was isolated using Differential Display PCR (DDPCR) on primary lung tumors. When reintroduced into nonexpressing non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines, this gene, named DAL-1 (for Differentially expressed in Adenoca rcinoma of the Lung), was shown to suppress growth. In addition, significan tly reduced expression (>50%) of DAL-1 was measured in 39 primary non-small cell lung carcinoma tumors as compared with patient-matched normal lung ti ssue, Immunocytochemical staining with a polyclonal anti-DAL-1 antibody loc alized the protein to the plasma membrane, particularly at cell-cell contac t points, a pattern reminiscent of other members of the protein 4.1 superfa mily including ezrin and NF2, The data suggest DAL-1 is a novel membrane-as sociated protein with potential to play an important role in the origin and progression of lung cancer.