title: mRNA expression of AgSK1, an adenocarconoma-associated antigen, in tumor tissue of patients with colorectal cancer: Quantitative RT-PCR analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  SK1, a human IgM monoclonal antibody recognizes the antigen, termed AgSK1 which was shown to be preferentially expressed by human adenocarcinomas, particularly human gastrointestinal malignancies. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinicopathological significance of AgSK1 mRNA expression in human colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a quantitative RT-PCR, we studied the mRNA expression level of AgSK1 in the resected specimen of 40 patients with colorectal cancer. We estimated the tumor tissue value (T-value), nontumorous tissue value (N-value), and the ratio of T-value to N-value (T/N Ratio). For further analysis, we compared these data with the clinicopathological features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the status of lymph node metastases, pN positive status tended to have a higher T-value level of AgSK1 mRNA than pN negative status (P = 0.076). According to a mean T-value (8.032) or a mean T/N Ratio (1.549), we divided these patients into two groups, low expression group and high expression group. A high expression group showed a significantly higher frequency of positive lymph node metastases (T-value; P = 0.021, T/N Ratio; P = 0.024).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AgSK1 mRNA expression in tumor tissue may become a useful marker for lymph node metastases and a malignant potential marker of colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: The Department of General Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Koya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yasutomi
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koda
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seike
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger