CDH1 promoter polymorphism (-347G-->GA) is a possible prognostic factor in sporadic colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of the -347G-->GA polymorphism in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
We designed a case-control study based on a population of CRC patients in China and normal healthy controls with no history of tumors or inherited diseases. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analyses were used to genotype the variants, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to measure the expression of E-cadherin in different allele cases among the CRC patients and normal controls.


RESULTS
The GA-allele (G/GA heterozygous and GA/GA homozygous) did not increase the risk of CRC compared with the G-allele (OR=1.232, 95% CI=0.898-1.691). However, the frequencies of the GA-allele were higher in poorly differentiated (P=0.002) and proximal (P=0.019) CRC patients than in normal controls. We also observed that E-cadherin expression was lower in poorly differentiated CRC patients than in well differentiated CRC patients (P=0.001). Furthermore, E-cadherin expression was lower for the GA-allele than for the G-allele (G/G heterozygous) in CRC patients (P=0.018). In contrast, there was no significant difference in E-cadherin expression for the G-allele and GA-allele in normal controls (P=0.292).


CONCLUSIONS
The -347G-->GA promoter polymorphism in E-cadherin gene is associated with specific CRC features, and may be a prognostic factor rather than a susceptibility factor during the progression of CRC.
Zou
Xiao-Ping
XP
Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China. zouxiaoping795@hotmail.com
Dai
Wei-Jie
WJ
Cao
Jun
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011379:Prognosis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D015703:Antigens, CD; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins