Determination of the effect of DHA fatty acid on the expression of molecular markers of metastasis in gastric cancer cell line

Abstract

Gastric cancer is the forth leading cause of cancer‐related death, mainly due to its metastatic potential. Metastatic process initially requires (EMT) epithelial mesenchymal transition in order to obtain invasiveness. Any factor that promotes EMT through various cell signaling pathways is associated with tumor invasiveness. TGFβ1, VEGF, HIF-1 and SIRT-1 are proven EMT modulators that promote gastric cancer metastasis. Due to previous studies a number of microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate metastasis of prostate cancer; miR106b and miR21 are frequently reported as upregulated miRs and are identified as metastatic biomarkers. In present study we aim to determine the effect of docosahexaenoic acid on changes in the expression of molecular markers of metastasis in metastatic gastric cancer cell line.

Material and Methods: MKN-45 gastric cancer cell line was cultured in the relevant culture medium and after treatment with DHA, RNA was extracted. Then cDNA was synthesized. Finally, changes in the expression of TGFβ1, VEGF, HIF-1, SIRT-1 genes and their control miRNAs were determined by qRT-PCR.

Results: QRT-PCR test changes in the expression of TGFβ1, VEGF, HIF-1, SIRT-1 genes and miRs controlling them in treatment with DHA showed a significant increase.