Prognostic values of tumor endothelial markers in patients with colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Tumor endothelial markers (TEMs) are a newly discovered family of endothelial markers associated with tumor specific angiogenesis. This study sought to examine the levels of expression (qualitatively and quantitatively) for TEMs in human colon cancer.


METHODS
Human colorectal cancer tissues (n = 48) and normal background tissues (n = 31) were obtained after surgery. RNA was extracted from frozen sections for gene amplification. The expression of TEMs (TEM-1 to TEM-8) was assessed using RT-PCR and their transcript levels were determined using real-time-quantitative PCR (Q-RT-PCR).


RESULTS
TEM-1 (P = 0.01), TEM-7 (P = 0.04), TEM-7R (P = 0.03), TEM-8 (P = 0.001) significantly raised in colon cancer tissues compared with the levels detected in normal background tissues. The expressions of TEM-2 and TEM-6 were found to be not significantly different between tumor tissues and normal tissues (P > 0.05). Patients who had cancer penetrating into and through the muscularis propria of the bowel wall and developed nodal involvement (Dukes C) exhibited significantly higher levels of TEM -8 compared to patients who were node negative (P < 0.05). TEM-7 and TEM-7R showed high level of transcripts in Dukes C, but they were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The level of the expression of TEM-1, TEM-7, TEM-7R and TEM-8 (but not TEM-2 and TEM-6) were associated with both nodal involvement and disease progression, and may therefore, have a prognostic value in colorectal cancer.
Rmali
K A
KA
Metastasis and Angiogenesis Research Group Department of Surgery, Wales College of Medicine University of Cardiff Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom. rmali@cf.ac.uk
Puntis
M C A
MC
Jiang
W G
WG
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
C473287:ANTXR1 protein, human; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C078203:CD248 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface