Increased mRNA expression levels of ERCC1, OGG1 and RAI in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
The majority of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases develop through the adenoma-carcinoma pathway. If an increase in DNA repair expression is detected in both early adenomas and carcinomas it may indicate that low repair capacity in the normal mucosa is a risk factor for adenoma formation.


METHODS
We have examined mRNA expression of two DNA repair genes, ERCC1 and OGG1 as well as the putative apoptosis controlling gene RAI, in normal tissues and lesions from 36 cases with adenomas (mild/moderat n = 21 and severe n = 15, dysplasia) and 9 with carcinomas.


RESULTS
Comparing expression levels of ERCC1, OGG1 and RAI between normal tissue and all lesions combined yielded higher expression levels in lesions, 3.3-fold higher (P = 0.005), 5.6-fold higher (P < 3.10-5) and 7.7-fold higher (P = 0.0005), respectively. The levels of ERCC1, OGG1 and RAI expressions when comparing lesions, did not differ between adenomas and CRC cases, P = 0.836, P = 0.341 and P = 0.909, respectively. When comparing expression levels in normal tissue, the levels for OGG1 and RAI from CRC cases were significantly lower compared to the cases with adenomas, P = 0.012 and P = 0.011, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that increased expression of defense genes is an early event in the progression of colorectal adenomas to carcinomas.
Saebø
Mona
M
Telemark University College, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Environmental and Health Studies, Hallvard Eikas plass, N-3800 Bø i Telemark, Norway. mona.sabo@hit.no
Skjelbred
Camilla Furu
CF
Nexø
Bjørn Andersen
BA
Wallin
Håkan
H
Hansteen
Inger-Lise
IL
Vogel
Ulla
U
Kure
Elin H
EH
D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D045647:DNA Glycosylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C119612:PPP1R13L protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C071447:ERCC1 protein, human; D004720:Endonucleases; D045647:DNA Glycosylases; C479058:oxoguanine glycosylase 1, human