title: Gene expression of fructosamine 3 kinase in patients with colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spontaneous non-enzymatic reaction of protein amino groups with glucose and other reducing sugars, known as glycation or Maillard reaction, has long been considered irreversible and inevitably followed by slow conversion of fructosamines and advanced glycation end products. Instead, recent identification of fructosamine 3 kinase (FN3K) has unveiled that fructosamines can be physiologically repaired, so that the FN3K enzyme could be considered a new form of protein repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one consecutive patients with colorectal cancer were enrolled in the study. FN3K gene expression was determined using quantitative RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean level of FN3K gene expression was significantly lower in cancer tissue than in the corresponding normal colorectal mucosa, and FN3K gene was under-expressed most particularly in the tumours located on the left side of the colon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low mRNA levels of this enzyme in colon cancer tissue with respect to normal surrounding mucosa suggests that neoplastic cells have lost a protective enzymatic system. Reduced FN3K gene expression may be important in the pathogenesis and progression of colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, National Institute for Digestive Diseases S. de Bellis, Castellana Grotte, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Notarnicola
authors.forename: Donato Francesco
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Altomare
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Misciagna
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); C414347:fructosamine-3-kinase