Tumor-specific activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in human colorectal and gastric carcinoma tissues.
To search for the signaling events in colorectal carcinoma relevant to its tumorigenesis, we investigated the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in human colorectal carcinoma tissues and paired normal tissues. Of 64 cases examined, approximately 75% (48 cases) showed tumor-specific activation of MAPK by in situ kinase renaturation assay, as well as in vitro kinase assay with immunoprecipitated MAPK. In addition, tumor-specific activation of MAPK was associated with the activation of MAPK kinase in the cases we examined. However, no clear correlation of MAPK activation with lymph node involvement, metastatic rate, stage, histological classification, age or sex was observed. These results suggest that the MAPK pathway is involved in colorectal tumor development, but its activation alone is not sufficient for malignant conversion. In contrast to colorectal carcinoma, gastric carcinoma tissues showed a lower rate of MAPK activation, suggesting that the signaling pathway activated in colorectal carcinoma tissues may differ in part from that of gastric carcinoma.
Kuno
Y
Y
Department of Surgery II, Nagoya University School of Medicine.
Kondo
K
K
Iwata
H
H
Senga
T
T
Akiyama
S
S
Ito
K
K
Takagi
H
H
Hamaguchi
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases