FOXE1: methylation and gene expression in canine osteosarcoma cell culture

Abstract

Gene expression profiles in a canine osteosarcoma (OSA) cell culture could identify chemotherapeutic targets and sort useful from useless prognostic groups. This could allow for more personalized treatment of OSA based on an individual’s tumor expression profile. An experimental model of methylation and gene expression in canine osteosarcoma cell culture is described. Blood Samples were taken from 5 dogs with cytological and histo-pathological OSA, and one from normal bone. OSA primary cell culture was isolated and characterized. For methylation and FOXE1 expression analysis, DNA of 5x106 osteosarcoma cells was used. Results showed that about 80% OSA cell cultures sequences were methylated and 20% un-methylated. FOXE1 expression was not demonstrated in un-methylated cell culture or normal bone. The findings suggest that FOXE1 gene may be silenced in OSA cells but its absence in osteoblast cells suggests that it is not involved in the carcinogenesis of canine osteosarcoma.