Demethylation of the CD133 gene is frequently detected in advanced colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Recently, it has been reported that colorectal carcinoma is created and propagated by a small number of undifferentiated tumorigenic CD133(+) cells. Furthermore, it has been reported that CD133 expression is directly regulated by epigenetic modifications. Therefore, it is possible that CD133 expression by gene demethylation is related to colorectal carcinogenesis.


METHODS
The methylation status of the CD133 gene was examined in primary carcinomas and the corresponding normal tissues derived from 48 patients with colorectal cancer using quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) and the correlation between the methylation status and the clinicopathological findings was evaluated.


RESULTS
Demethylation of the CD133 gene was detected in 19 out of the 48 (40%) primary colon carcinomas, suggesting that the demethylation of CD133 is frequently observed in colorectal carcinomas. The clinicopathological data were correlated with the demethylation results. A significant difference was observed in the maximal tumor size (p=0.0222). Moreover, a trend was shown toward preferentially developing lymph node metastasis in demethylated tumors (p=0.214).


CONCLUSIONS
CD133 was more frequently demethylated in advanced colorectal carcinomas.
Hibi
Kenji
K
Department of Surgery, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Aoba-ku, Yokohama 227-8501, Japan. kenjih-ngy@umin.ac.jp
Sakata
Makiko
M
Kitamura
Yo-Hei
YH
Sakuraba
Kazuma
K
Shirahata
Atsushi
A
Goto
Tetsuhiro
T
Mizukami
Hiroki
H
Saito
Mitsuo
M
Ishibashi
Kazuyoshi
K
Kigawa
Gaku
G
Nemoto
Hiroshi
H
Sanada
Yutaka
Y
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012007:Rectum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides