Anam Rafique

Expression Analysis of DNA Methyltransferases (DNMTs) in Breast Cancer Patients under Stress

Epigenetic changes induced by DNA methylation is involved in different human cancers. Over expression of DNA methyltransferases result in hypermethylation and down regulation of tumor suppressor genes. This will lead to neoplasia and cancer progression. Hypermethylation caused by DNA methyltransferases in tumors contributes to tumor progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression level of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. In this research, level of mRNA was measured from blood samples of breast cancer patients through semi-quantitative RT PCR analysis. The outcome of this study demonstrated higher expression level of DNMT3A and DNMT3B in breast cancer patients with advanced stage of cancer. Overexpression of DNMT3A and DNMT3B is associated with increased DNA methylation in cancer related genes and subsequently with tumor grade and metastasis. Higher level of metastatic marker TWIST1 was seen in all samples. Increased level of TWIST1 tends to impart tumor development and metastasis. Positive regulation was found between TWIST1 and DNMTs level. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker E-Cadherin (CDH1) was negatively regulated in cancer patients. Decreased level of CDH1 is a significant feature of EMT in progression and advancement of epithelial tumors to metastatic cancers. Taken together higher expression of DNMTs and TWIST1, decreased expression of cadherin markers contributes in cancer metastasis and poor prognosis.
Future AspectsTherapeutic Drugs should be designed that can target DNMTs in the patients of cancer stage III and IV. It will restrict the cancer stage progression.

Personal Details

Education

M.Phil. Molecular Pathology and Genomics

Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan

Bachelor of Science in Microbiology,

Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan

Awards & Achievements

Cum Laude honors award in Mphil
Certificate of Distinction- 2nd Position in Department in postgraduate program
2nd Prize in 3rd Annual M.Phil. Research Competition at FCCU, Lahore , Pakistan
Teacher Assistant-ship Award

Publication

Magazines & Newspaper Articles

“The Biological Secret of Aging” (September 1, 2019 THE NEWS International)

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/520286-the-biological-secret-of-aging

Research Interests

Oncology
Epigenetics
Genetics
Molecular Biology

Research Skills

DNA/RNA Extraction
cDNA Synthesis
Primer designing
ImageJ Software
Serial Cloner Software
Data mining (NCBI, UCSC)