Alteration of gene expression in normal-appearing colon mucosa of APC(min) mice and human cancer patients.
The expression of many genes is altered in colon cancer, but the roles of these genes in carcinogenesis are unclear. Using real-time quantitative PCR, we demonstrated that several genes previously implicated in human colon cancer undergo altered expression in the APC(min) mouse adenomatous polyp, a precursor of cancer, as well as in normal-appearing surrounding mucosa. The five genes that were most highly up-regulated in mouse polyp were also significantly up-regulated in polyp-free colon mucosa. Similar changes occurred in morphologically normal mucosa of surgical sections taken from human cancer patients, frequently extending to the margins. Thus, morphologically normal colon mucosa in APC(min) mice and in human cancer patients is not metabolically normal. Altered gene expression in this tissue does not appear to result from a field effect because there was no correlation between extent of altered regulation and distance from polyp or tumor. Our data suggest that alterations of expression levels of these genes may be an early event in carcinogenesis and a marker of risk for the development of colon cancer.
Chen
Ling-Chun
LC
Geraldine Brush Cancer Research Institute, California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco, California 94115, USA. ling@cooper.cpmc.org
Hao
Chun-Yi
CY
Chiu
Yanek S Y
YS
Wong
Patrick
P
Melnick
Jane S
JS
Brotman
Martin
M
Moretto
John
J
Mendes
Fredrick
F
Smith
Andrew P
AP
Bennington
James L
JL
Moore
Dan
D
Lee
Nancy M
NM
D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D017491:Genes, APC; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008875:Middle Aged; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases