Overexpression of manganese superoxide dismutase mRNA may correlate with aggressiveness in gastric and colorectal adenocarcinomas.
The expression or activity of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) is reduced in a variety of malignant tumors and Mn-SOD may act as a new type of tumor suppressor gene. On the other hand, increased expression of Mn-SOD can diminish the cytotoxic effects of several anticancer modalities, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, ionizing radiation, certain chemotherapeutic agents and hyperthermia. Although Mn-SOD expression and its role in various cancers are intensely studied, little is known about its function in gastrointestinal carcinomas. To examine the expression level and significance of Mn-SOD in gastrointestinal carcinomas, Mn-SOD mRNA expression was examined in 53 gastric carcinoma and 38 colorectal carcinoma by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and was compared with those in the corresponding normal mucosal tissues. The tumor/normal (T/N) ratio was calculated and the data were clinicopathologically analyzed. The average T/N ratios of Mn-SOD mRNA expression in gastric and colorectal carcinomas were 2.19 and 3. 72, respectively. Clinicopathologic analyses revealed positive correlation between the Mn-SOD expression level and venous invasion in both gastric and colorectal carcinomas (p<0.05 and p<0.05, respectively). Furthermore, the colorectal carcinoma with lymph node metastasis showed significantly higher Mn-SOD expression than those without it (p<0.05). Our results suggest that Mn-SOD mRNA overexpression can occur in gastric and colorectal carcinomas and may be related to increased aggressiveness.
Toh
Y
Y
Department of Gastroenterologic Surgery, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
Kuninaka
S
S
Oshiro
T
T
Ikeda
Y
Y
Nakashima
H
H
Baba
H
H
Kohnoe
S
S
Okamura
T
T
Mori
M
M
Sugimachi
K
K
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase