New insight into the key proteins and pathways involved in the metastasis of colorectal carcinoma.
Metastasis-associated genomic alterations have been recognized to play a critical role in tumor metastasis. Primary and metastatic tumor cells in mice and tumors in a patient were studied by cDNA array analysis. Selected genes were determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Pathways on changed genes were statistically analyzed. The function of Grb2 was determined by in vitro wound assay. Nodal metastatic cells had a stronger ability of growth and metastasis than primary tumor cells. A total of 376 genes showed a different expression between primary and metastatic cells. The expression of Grb2 and genes in the Grb2-mediated pathways was significantly elevated in the metastases. Elevated levels of Grb2 expression in metastases were related to the distant metastasis of colorectal carcinoma. Blocking the Grb2-SH2 domain signaling transduction inhibited cell motility. Metastasis-associated genes identified by cDNA and tissue microarrays provide potentially valuable information on the metastasis of colorectal tumors. Overexpression of Grb2 may contribute to tumor growth, invasiveness and metastasis.
Yu
Guan-Zhen
GZ
Department of Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, PR China.
Chen
Ying
Y
Long
Ya-Qiu
YQ
Dong
Dong
D
Mu
Xiao-Lan
XL
Wang
Jie-jun
JJ
D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D051380:GRB2 Adaptor Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D015398:Signal Transduction
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D051380:GRB2 Adaptor Protein; C495948:GRB2 protein, human; C495949:Grb2 protein, mouse