Three-dimensional mRNA measurements reveal minimal regional heterogeneity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: The classic tumor clonal evolution theory postulates that cancers change over time to produce unique molecular subclones within a parent neoplasm, presumably including regional differences in gene expression. More recently, however, this notion has been challenged by studies showing that tumors maintain a relatively stable transcript profile. To examine these competing hypotheses, we microdissected discrete subregions containing approximately 3000 to 8000 cells (500 to 1500 μm in diameter) from ex vivo esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) specimens and analyzed transcriptomes throughout three-dimensional tumor space. Overall mRNA profiles were highly similar in all 59 intratumor comparisons, in distinct contrast to the markedly different global expression patterns observed in other di

SUBMITTER: Yan W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3562732 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature