Expression data from RCM-1 human colorectal cancer cells treated with methylthioacetic acid

Methylthioacetic acid (MTA) is thought to potentially have an anticancer activity because it promotes the differentiation of unorganized cell mass into dome tissues in RCM-1 human colorectal cancer cell line. To elucidate a molecular mechanism underlying MTA-mediated dome formation, we used microarrays to disclose the global changes in gene expression caused by MTA and define the candidate genes involved in this phenomenon. RCM-1 human colorectal cancer cells at near confluency were treated with 1 mM MTA for 0, 6, 12, and 18 h, followed by a further culture in the absence of the chemical for up to 24 h after MTA addition, at which dome tissues were not apparently observed. The RNA extracted was subjected to microarrays to analyze global changes in gene expression in the course of dome formation.