Carcinoembryonic gene member 2 mRNA expression as a marker to detect circulating enterocytes in the blood of colorectal cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to report our experience with a new molecular tool to detect circulating enterocytes in the blood of patients with colorectal cancer.


METHODS
The study included 193 individuals: 78 patients with colorectal cancer and 115 controls composed of patients with benign colorectal diseases (n = 16), patients with noncolorectal cancer (n = 31), healthy individuals (n = 62), and healthy bone marrow transplantation donors (n = 6). A nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for the carcinoembryonic gene member 2 (CGM2) was used to detect circulating enterocytes in the peripheral blood of 78 patients with colorectal cancer. The blood (n = 109) or the bone marrow (n = 6) of the 115 controls was studied to test the absence of CGM2 illegitimate transcription in nucleated blood cells and nucleated blood cell progenitors. The assay sensitivity was effective in detecting 1 CGM2-positive cell per 10(6) nucleated blood cells.


RESULTS
Fifty-nine percent (46/78) of patients with colorectal cancer were found positive whereas all negative controls remained negative. Positivity rates were 38% (3/8) in Dukes' A classification, 43% (9/21) in Dukes' B, 77% (23/30) in Dukes' C, and 58% (11/19) in Dukes' D.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical significance of enterocyte detection in the blood of colorectal cancer patients by means of this CGM2 messenger RNA assay needs further evaluation.
Douard
R
R
Departments of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Gastroenterology, AP-HP Georges Pompidou European University Hospital, Paris, France.
Le Maire
V
V
Wind
P
P
Sales
J P
JP
Dumas
F
F
Fayemendi
L
L
Landi
B
B
Benichou
J
J
Cugnenc
P H
PH
Gayral
F
F
Loric
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C091223:CEACAM7 protein, human; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm