A novel gene containing PDZ and LIM domains, PCD1, is overexpressed in human colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
The process of colorectal cancer development involves accumulated genetic alterations affecting APC, K-ras and p53. A recently identified gene, PCD1, was reported to be up-regulated in human malignancies including colorectal cancers, but relationships between PCD1 gene expression and clinicopathological findings, as well as the timing of genetic alteration of PCD1 in colorectal cancer development, are not clear. To determine whether PCD1 contributes to colorectal cancer progression, we investigated the expression of PCD1 mRNA in human colorectal tissues.


METHODS
The expression of PCD1 mRNA was determined by quantitative RT-PCR. The mutation of p53 was detected by a PCR-SSCP method.


RESULTS
Up-regulation of PCD1 gene transcription was observed not in adenomas but in cancers compared to normal mucosa (p < 0.0001). Primary tumors with a mutation of p53 showed significantly greater PCD1 gene expression than tumors without such a mutation (p = 0.0134).


CONCLUSIONS
The PCD1 gene may play a role in colorectal cancer development from adenomas.
Furuya
Momoko
M
Division of Laboratory Diagnosis, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8543, Japan.
Tsuji
Naoki
N
Endoh
Teruo
T
Moriai
Ryosuke
R
Kobayashi
Daisuke
D
Yagihashi
Atsuhito
A
Watanabe
Naoki
N
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D015870:Gene Expression; D016158:Genes, p53; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012007:Rectum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C414207:PCD1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors