E-cadherin and OB-cadherin mRNA levels in normal human colon and colon carcinoma.
A polymerase chain reaction strategy was utilized to identify members of the cadherin family of cell adhesion molecules that are expressed in normal human colon and colon carcinoma. E-cadherin (an epithelial cadherin) and OB-cadherin (a mesenchymal cadherin) were found to be present in the colon specimens. Furthermore, a novel semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for each of these two cadherins. These assays were used to determine the relative levels of E-cadherin and OB-cadherin in normal human colon and colon carcinoma specimens. E-cadherin levels were found to be reduced approximately twofold in the adenocarcinoma specimens in comparison to matched normal colon specimens. In contrast, OB-cadherin levels did not correlate with malignant transformation. We speculate that this novel PCR method will be widely applicable for assessing E-cadherin mRNA levels in carcinomas.
Munro
S B
SB
Department of Surgery, McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Turner
I M
IM
Farookhi
R
R
Blaschuk
O W
OW
Jothy
S
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D003106:Colon / Q000737:chemistry*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015820:Cadherins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C086960:osteoblast cadherin