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. 2016 Feb 5;7(5):512-5.
doi: 10.7150/jca.13651. eCollection 2016.

Loss of MKK3 and MK2 Copy Numbers in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Johanna Samulin Erdem  1 , Vidar Skaug  1 , Aage Haugen  1 , Shanbeh Zienolddiny  1
Affiliations

Loss of MKK3 and MK2 Copy Numbers in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Johanna Samulin Erdem et al. J Cancer. .

Abstract

Identification of genetic alterations in members of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is important as these proteins have dynamic roles in tumor progression and may serve as potential therapeutic targets in cancer. We analyzed tumor and non-tumorous lung tissue of 233 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients for the presence of copy number alterations (CNAs) in the MAPK kinase 3 (MKK3) and MAPK-activated kinase 2 (MK2) genes. We report frequent CNAs in MKK3 and MK2 genes in NSCLC. Copy number losses were detected in 31% of NSCLC tumors (odds ratio: 7.08, 95% confidence interval: 3.2-15.6, P<0.001) for the MKK3 gene and in 28% of tumors for the MK2 gene (odds ratio: 3.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.9-7.2, P<0.001). Several of the non-tumorous tissues showed an elevated MKK3 copy number, with a concurrent loss of this in 89% of the paired tumors. MKK3 gene deletions were significantly more frequent in squamous and large cell carcinoma than in adenocarcinoma. These data demonstrate a novel loss of MKK3 and MK2 genomic copy numbers in NSCLC tumors, and suggest these genes as interesting therapeutic candidates in NSCLC.

Keywords: MK2; MKK3; copy number alterations; non-small cell lung cancer.; p38 MAPK.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
MKK3 and MK2 copy number status in NSCLC. Percentage of copy number atlterations (CNAs) in (A) MKK3 and (C) MK2 genes in lung tumors and non-tumorous tissues. Distribution of (B) MKK3 and (D) MK2 gene CNAs in NSCLC of different histology. Copy number loss was defined as copy number ≤1.55; whereas, gain was defined as copy number ≥2.45.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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