Analysis of angiogenesis pathway-related gene expression impacted by MDM2 using PCR array

The Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2) gene encodes an oncogenic MDM2 protein, which is a negative regulator of the p53 tumor suppressor. MDM2 amplification or over expression is found in many tumors that eventually lead to the inactivation of the cell cycle control and loss of pro-apoptotic functions that are typically exerted by wild type p53. Many of the oncogenic effects of MDM2 are resulting from the inactivation of p53 through direct binding or degradation of p53 following E3 ligase mediated ubiquitination. However, our recent findings have indicated that MDM2 over expression can also promote tumor angiogenesis through p53 independent pathways and thereby enhance the metastatic potential of cancer cells. In this respect increasing the levels of pro-angiogenic factors such as VEGF has been confirmed as one of the mechanisms regulated by MDM2