Identification of metastasis-associated genes by transcriptional profilingof a pair of metastatic versus non-metastatic human mammary carcinoma celllines

Cell lines 4A4 and 2C5 are the respective metastatic and non-metastatic var iants of the human mammary carcinoma cell line MDA-MB-435 in the nude mouse system. We compared the transcriptional profile of approximately 5000 full -length genes using the Affymetrix HuGene FL Array technology. We have show n that the metastatic phenotype is mediated by different functional categor ies of genes, e.g. genes involved in immune response, genes responsible for tumor antigens, genes involved in migration and invasion, genes involved i n mediating signal transduction, genes responsible for transcription factor s, genes involved in phospholipid signaling, genes involved in modulation o f extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton, genes with a cell-type specific mo de of expression and genes which do not fit into the subclasses as defined above. Our results suggest an important role of Autocrine Motility Factor ( AMF) as a mediator of metastasis in this system.