Comparison of differential gene expression profiles in human esophageal squamous carcinoma EC8712 cells before and after arsenic trioxide (As2O3) treatment

To elucidate molecular mechanisms of As2O3 induced apoptosis of cancer cell s in vitro, Atlas human cDNA expression analysis has been used for the prof ile of the known genes expressed in the human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells before and after treated by As2O3. On treating EC8712 cells with As2 O3, most of the oncogenes have been down-regulated, while some tumor suppre ssor genes, such as DCC, up-regulated. Cyclin H decreases, while guanine nu cleotide releasing protein CDC25 increases. Heat shock protein 86, a stress response protein, increases, suggesting that As2O3 has a toxic effect on c ells. Most stimulating cell reproduction factors have been down-regulated. Many apoptosis-related proteins have been up-regulated. DNA repair protein hMLH1 and DNase X have been up-regulated. Most transcription factors and ge neral DNA binding proteins regulate upward. ICH-2 protease (ICErel-II) and apopain, cysteine protease Mch2 isoform beta rise. Results indicate that As 2O3 may induce change of expression of many genes and many genes may be inv olved in the process of apoptosis induced by As2O3. These findings provide further evidence that As2O3 might be clinically useful in solid tumor treat ment.