Aberrant up-regulation of LAMB3 and LAMC2 by promoter demethylation in gastric cancer

► Higher expression levels of LAMB3 and LAMC2 mRNA in tumor tissues than in normal tissues. ► DNA hypomethylation was associated with the up-regulation of both genes. ► Treatment with a methylation inhibitor induces LAMB3 and LAMC2 expression in gastric cancer cell lines. ► Histone modification is associated with the expression of both genes. ► The expression level of LAMB3 affects multiple malignant phenotypes in gastric cancer cell lines.