The role of DOT1L in the proliferation and prognosis of gastric cancer

Background: Disruptor of telomeric silencing-1-like (DOT1L), a methyltransferase of H3K79, was observed to be amplified and overexpressed in certain malignancies. This work was aimed at investigating the differences in DOT1L expression and its regulatory mechanism in gastric cancer (GC) and healthy samples. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect DOT1L levels in 101 cases of GC and marching adjacent normal tissues. DOT1L was inhibited by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and EPZ5676; a targeting drug. The ability of cells to proliferate were checked by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and clone formation assays, with flow cytometry for observing the cell cycle. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot revealed the gene and protein profiles. Finally, the outcome of EPZ5676 administration was checked on a murine model. Results: The expression of DOT1L is significantly increased in gastric malignant tumors that is related to the degree of differentiation, lymph node metastasis and TNM staging. DOT1L serves as an independent marker for the prognosis of overall survival (OS) with high levels implying worse prognosis. In addition, DOT1L regulates cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 (CDK4) and CDK6 through H3K79me2, which leads to a change in the cell cycle at G1, thereby affecting the proliferation of tumors in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: This is a first clinical demonstration of the applicability of DOT1L overexpression in gastric tumors. The work is suggestive of altered proliferation of cells by DOT1L via regulating cyclins and H3K79 methylation. This indicates the role of DOT1L in the prognosis and possible medical intervention of GC.