TY - JOUR T1 - Small Molecule Inhibition of Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Melanoma Tumors Results in Altered Transcriptional Expression Patterns of Key Genes Involved in Tumor Initiation and Progression JF - Cancer Genomics - Proteomics JO - Cancer Genomics Proteomics SP - 77 LP - 85 VL - 8 IS - 2 AU - Carrie Spencer AU - John Montalvo AU - Sarah R. Mclaughlin AU - Brad A. Bryan Y1 - 2011/03/01 UR - http://cgp.iiarjournals.org/content/8/2/77.abstract N2 - Background: Rho kinase signaling plays an important role in the oncogenic process largely through its regulation of F-actin dynamics, and inhibition of this pathway results in reduction in tumor volume and metastasis across a number of tumor types. While the cytoskeletal-regulatory role of Rho kinase has been a topic of in-depth study, the mechanisms linking Rho kinase to altered gene expression are largely unknown. Materials and Methods: Global gene expression analysis was performed on melanoma tumors treated with sham or the small molecule inhibitor Y27632. Results: Inhibition of Rho kinase activity in melanoma tumors results in a statistically significant change in gene transcription of 94 genes, many of which are critically involved in tumor initiation and progression. Conclusion: In addition to regulating tumorigenesis through modulation of the phosphoproteome, Rho kinase signaling also contributes to the regulation of the tumor transcriptome. ER -