title: DNA content of rectal mucosa and rectal mucosal proliferation in individuals at high risk of colorectal cancer.
abstract: Genetic changes are important in the development of colorectal cancer. Ploidy and rectal mucosal proliferation were measured in histologically normal rectal mucosa of 85 individuals (mean age 59 years, range 29-74) who had a total colonoscopy. Fifty-one subjects had an adenoma or were undergoing adenoma surveillance. Twenty-two subjects had a strong family history of colorectal cancer and 12 individuals comprised a control group who had a normal colonoscopy without a family history of colorectal cancer. An abnormal DNA content (aneuploidy) was found in the normal mucosa of nine (10.6%) individuals. There was no significant difference in rectal mucosal proliferation with those who had aneuploidy and those who had diploidy. There was a trend towards increased proliferation in those with aneuploidy and adenomas, compared with controls. Of the 35 individuals undergoing adenoma surveillance, eight had recurrent adenomas, and three of these expressed aneuploidy. In the other 27, in whom no adenomas were found, no individual expressed aneuploidy (P = 0.01, Fisher's exact test). Aneuploidy within histologically normal mucosa is an unusual feature, which requires further investigation, particularly in patients developing adenomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gifford
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hardcastle
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Armitage
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000782:Aneuploidy; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004171:Diploidy; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012007:Rectum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004247:DNA