Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a highly aggressive cancer, with low overall survival. The pathogenesis of mesothelioma is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify potential genes overexpressed in mesothelioma.
Materials and methods: A cDNA microarray was used to identify potential genes that are activated in mesothelioma cell lines. Overexpression of stathmin, a cytosolic protein that regulates microtubule dynamics, was found. RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to confirm overexpression in both cell lines and tumor samples.
Results: Using RT-PCR and Western blot, stathmin overexpression was confirmed in seven mesothelioma cell lines. Increased stathmin protein expression was also found in seven out of eight mesothelioma tumor samples. Finally, stathmin expression in a mesothelioma tumor was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.
Conclusion: For the first time, stathmin was shown to be overexpressed in malignant mesothelioma. The overexpression of stathmin in mesothelioma may offer a potential therapeutic target and further studies are warranted.