Moreover, cells transform

from a spindle-shaped morphology into a rounded morphology, resembling a mesenchymal-to-epithelial morphological transition. Using this dynamic protein modulation strategy with intravital imaging, we will be able to quantify the impact of dynamic E-cadherin modulation in vivo during each rate-limiting step of metastasis. Poster No. 132 Hyperoxic Treatment induces Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition in a Rat Adenocarcinoma Model Ingrid Moen 1 , Anne M. Øyan2,3, Karl-Henning Kalland2,3, Karl Johan Tronstad1, Lars A. Akslen2,4, Martha Chekenya1, Per Øystein Sakariassen1, Rolf K. Reed1, Linda EB Stuhr1 1 Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, selleck chemicals llc 2 The Gade Institute, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, 3 GSK1120212 cost Department of Microbiology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, 4 Department of Pathology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway Background: Tumor hypoxia is considered to be relevant for several aspects of tumor pathophysiology, for tumor growth and progression, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). We now report that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment induced mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) in a dimetyl-α-benzantracene induced mammary rat adenocarcinoma model, and the MET was associated with extensive coordinated

gene expression changes and less aggressive tumors. Methods: One group of tumor bearing rats was exposed to HBO treatment (2 bar, pO2 = 2 bar, 4 exposures à 90 minutes), whereas the control group was housed under normal atmosphere (1 bar, pO2 = 0.2). Treatment effects were determined by assessment of tumor growth, tumor vascularisation, tumor cell proliferation, cell death and gene expression profile. Results: Tumor growth was significantly

reduced (~16%) after repeated HBO treatment compared to day 1 levels, whereas control tumors increased almost 100% in volume. A significantly decrease in tumor cell proliferation and tumor blood vessels, together with an increase in cell death, are consistent with tumor growth reduction and tumor stroma influence after hyperoxic treatment. Gene expression Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II profiling showed that HBO induced a MET with increased expression of cell attachment gene modules. Conclusion: Hyperoxia induces a coordinated alteration of entire gene modules of cell junctions, attachments and MET, which leads to less aggressive DMBA-induced mammary tumors. This indicates that oxygen per se might be an important factor in the “switch” from EMT to MET in vivo. HBO treatment also attenuates tumor growth and changes tumor stroma by targeting the vascular system, having anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect. Poster No. 133 BMP2 Upregalates the Migration and Invasion of Gastric Cancer Cells via PI3K/Akt-Raf-NF-κB Pathways Myoung Hee Kang 1 , Han-Na Kang1, Jung-Lim Kim1, Yong Park2, Jun-Suk Kim2, Sang-Cheul Oh2, Young A.