title: TWIST1 overexpression is associated with nodal invasion and male sex in primary colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  TWIST1 is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that has been involved in tumor progression and metastasis in several cancer types, although no evidence has been provided yet on its implication in colorectal carcinogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the expression pattern of TWIST1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in 54 colorectal cancer biopsies compared with each respective adjacent normal mucosa by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TWIST1 mRNA was found significantly overexpressed in colorectal cancer samples compared to nontumorous colon mucosa (P < 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that TWIST1 mRNA levels are significantly increased in patients with nodal invasion and, interestingly, a significant correlation with patient sex was also found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence for upregulation of TWIST1 mRNA in colorectal cancer is provided, suggesting its implication in the onset of malignant progression of this disease. In addition, significant higher levels of TWIST1 mRNA were found in men than in women, suggesting a possible transcriptional regulation of TWIST1 by sexual hormones. The use of TWIST1 as a new prognostic marker of advanced malignancy, and as a potential therapeutic target in colorectal cancer, is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, C/ Darwin, 3. Campus Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valdés-Mora
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gómez del Pulgar
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bandrés
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cejas
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramírez de Molina
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez-Palacios
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gallego-Ortega
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: García-Cabezas
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Casado
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larrauri
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nistal
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Barón
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Foncillas
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lacal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012737:Sex Factors; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C103173:TWIST1 protein, human; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1