Correlation between Pokemon and MDM2 in Carcinogenesis of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Rats

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate correlation between proto-oncogene POK erythroid myetoid ontogenic factor (Pokemon) and oncogene MDM2 in carcinogenesis of lung squamous cell carcinoma in rats. Protein and mRNA expressions of Pokemon and MDM2 in different stages of rat lung squamous cell carcinoma were measured by immunochemistry staining and in situ hybridization assays. Lung squamous cell carcinoma could be viewed under microscope in 60 rats (success rate: 80%) after treatment with carcinogen. Among these rats, 21 ones were with bronchial epithelial hyperplasia, 13 ones were with atypical hyperplasia, 28 ones were with carcinoma in situ, 20 ones had invasive carcinoma and 16 ones had metastatic carcinoma. There were significant differences of Pokemon and MDM2 expression between control group and atypical hyperplasia group or squamous cell carcinoma group (P < 0.05). There were also significant differences of both genes between non-metastatic carcinoma group and metastatic carcinoma group (P < 0.05). Pokemon expression was positively correlated with MDM2 expression (r=0.616, P=0.000). These findings indicate that Pokemon and MDM2 were highly expressed in rat lungs following carcinogenesis of lung squamous cell carcinoma. The expression of Pokemon and MDM2 may contribute to genesis and development of lung squamous cell carcinoma in rats.