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The SIL Gene Is Essential for Mitotic Entry and Survival of Cancer Cells

¹ Chaim Sheba Cancer Research Center, ² Institute of Hematology, and Departments of ³ Pathology and ⁴ Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; ⁵ Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; ⁶ Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel; and ⁷ Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland

Requests for reprints: Shai Izraeli, Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel. Phone: 972-3530-3037; Fax: 972-3530-3031; E-mail: sizraeli{at}sheba.health.gov.il.

Although mitosis is a general physiologic process, cancer cells are unusually sensitive to mitotic inhibitors. Therefore, there is an interest in the identification of novel mitotic inhibitors. Here, we report the novel discovery of the SIL gene as a regulator of mitotic entry and cell survival. The SIL gene was cloned from leukemia-associated chromosomal translocation. It encodes a cytosolic protein with an unknown function and no homology to known proteins. Previously, we observed an increased expression of SIL in multiple cancers that correlated with the expression of mitotic spindle checkpoint genes and with increased metastatic potential. Here, we show that SIL is important for the transition from the G₂ to the M phases of the cell cycle. Inducible knockdown of SIL in cancer cells in vitro delayed entrance into mitosis, decreased activation of the CDK1 (CDC2)-cyclin B complex, and induced apoptosis in a p53-independent manner. SIL is also essential for the growth of tumor explants in mice. Thus, SIL is required for mitotic entry and cancer cell survival. Because increased expression of SIL has been noted in multiple types of cancers and correlates with metastatic spread, it may be a suitable target for novel anticancer therapy. [Cancer Res 2007;67(9):4022–7]

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				Correction: SIL in Mitosis and Cancer Cancer Res., June 15, 2007; 67(12): 5998 - 5998. [Full Text] [PDF]