title: Expression of CD66a (human C-CAM) and other members of the carcinoembryonic antigen gene family of adhesion molecules in human colorectal adenomas.
abstract: Among the members of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family, CD66a (human C-CAM) and CGM2 (CEA gene family member 2) mRNAs are frequently down-regulated in colorectal cancer. In contrast, nonspecific cross-reactive antigen (NCA) mRNA is overexpressed in the majority of these carcinomas. In animal models, the rodent homologues of CD66a have been shown to act as tumor suppressors, suggesting an important role in carcinogenesis. Here we investigate the mRNAs of CD66a, CGM2, and NCA in 22 human colorectal adenomas and the respective normal mucosa specimens by Northern blots. The expression of both CD66a and CGM2 changed in a concomitant fashion. Using oligonucleotides specific for the N-terminal domains, two CD66a transcripts 3.9 and 1.5 kb in size were identified. These showed a greater than 50% down-regulation in 20 of 22 and 18 of 22 adenomas, respectively. Reduction of the CGM2 message was observed in 21 of 22 cases. Complete or near-complete losses of the CD66a 3.9-kb mRNA and the CGM2 message were found in 13 of 22 and 15 of 22 of the tumors, respectively. The medians of CD66a and CGM2 expressions were between 0.3 and 0.0, respectively. The tumor:normal ratio of NCA mRNA expression was increased up to 2.4-fold in 11 of 22 adenomas. Altogether, these results compare well to the changes reported previously for colorectal carcinomas. The high frequency and early appearance of dysregulation of members of the carcinoembryonic antigen family during colorectal tumorigenesis suggests that these changes may be important for the development of the malignant phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Klinische Chemie, Medizinische Klinik, Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nollau
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scheller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kona-Horstmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hagenmüller
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wagener
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neumaier
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C069847:CD66 antigens; C091223:CEACAM7 protein, human; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007633:Keratins