Relaxation of imprinting of the insulin-like growth factor II gene in colorectal cancer.
The insulin-like growth factor II gene (IGF2) is imprinted in normal human tissues, and relaxation of imprinting (ROI) of IGF2 is thought to play an important role in human childhood tumors. Taking advantage of an Apa I polymorphism in this gene, allelic expression of IGF2 has now been examined in colorectal cancer. Thirteen of 33 patients studied were informative. Colorectal cancer tissue from 5 of the 13 informative patients exhibited ROI of IGF2; furthermore, normal mucosa from 3 of these 5 patients also showed weak biallelic expression of IGF2. ROI of IGF2 may thus also play a role in colorectal cancer.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Y
Y
Kinouchi
N
N
Hiwatashi
S
S
Higashioka
F
F
Nagashima
M
M
Chida
T
T
Toyota
D000483:Alleles; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D018392:Genomic Imprinting / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000235:genetics*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa
D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II