Serum concentration of Reg IV in patients with colorectal cancer: overexpression and high serum levels of Reg IV are associated with liver metastasis.
OBJECTIVE
Regenerating islet-derived family, member 4 (regenerating gene type IV, Reg IV) is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic utility of Reg IV determination in sera from patients with CRC.


METHODS
We examined the expression and distribution of Reg IV in CRC by immunohistochemistry and determined Reg IV levels in sera from patients with CRC by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Immunostaining revealed that 23 of 80 (29%) CRC cases were positive for Reg IV. CRC cases with metastatic recurrence in the liver showed more frequently Reg IV staining than those without (p = 0.0102). Patients with CRC showing Reg IV staining had a significantly worse survival than those without Reg IV staining (p = 0.0117). Preoperatively, serum Reg IV concentrations were not elevated in CRC patients at stage 0-III, being in contrast to the significantly increased preoperative levels in stage IV CRC patients with liver metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that Reg IV is a prognosticator for poor survival. Serum Reg IV concentration may predict CRC recurrence in the liver.
Oue
Naohide
N
Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Kuniyasu
Hiroki
H
Noguchi
Tsuyoshi
T
Sentani
Kazuhiro
K
Ito
Masanori
M
Tanaka
Shinji
S
Setoyama
Tetsuro
T
Sakakura
Chouhei
C
Natsugoe
Shoji
S
Yasui
Wataru
W
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; C428528:REG4 protein, human