Interactions of Human hMSH2 with hMSH3 and hMSH2 with hMSH6: Examination of Mutations Found in Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer

Mutations in the human mismatch repair protein hMSH2 have been found to cosegregate with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Previous biochemical and physical studies have shown that hMSH2 forms specific mispair binding complexes with hMSH3 and hMSH6. We have further characterized these protein interactions by mapping the contact regions within the hMSH2-hMSH3 and the hMSH2-hMSH6 heterodimers. We demonstrate that there are at least two distinct interaction regions of hMSH2 with hMSH3 and hMSH2 with hMSH6. Interestingly, the interaction regions of hMSH2 with either hMSH3 or hMSH6 are identical and there is a coordinated linear orientation of these regions. We examined several missense alterations of hMSH2 found in HNPCC kindreds that are contained within the consensus interaction regions. None of these missense mutations displayed a defect in protein-protein interaction. These data support the notion that these HNPCC-associated mutations may affect some other function of the heterodimeric complexes than simply the static interaction of hMSH2 with hMSH3 or hMSH2 with hMSH6.     

Mismatch Repair Genes on Chromosomes 2p and 3p Account for a Major Share of Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer Families Evaluable by Linkage

Two susceptibility loci for hereditary nonpolyposis colo-rectal cancer (HNPCC) have been identified, and each contains a mismatch repair gene: MSH2 on chromosome 2p and MLH1 on chromosome 3p. We studied the involvement of these loci in 13 large HNPCC kindreds originating from three different continents. Six families showed close linkage to the 2p locus, and a heritable mutation of the MSH2 gene was subsequently found in four. The 2p-linked kindreds included a family characterized by the lack of extracolonic manifestations (Lynch I syndrome), as well as two families with cutaneous manifestations typical of the Muir-Torre syndrome. Four families showed evidence for linkage to the 3p locus, and a heritable mutation of the MLH1 gene was later detected in three. One 3p-linked kindred was of Amerindian origin. Of the remaining three families studied for linkage, one showed lod scores compatible with exclusion of both MSH2 and MLH1, while lod scores obtained in the other two families suggested exclusion of one HNPCC locus (MSH2 or MLH1) but were uninformative for markers flanking the other locus. Our results suggest that mismatch repair genes on 2p and 3p account for a major share of HNPCC in kindreds that can be evaluated by linkage analysis.     

结直肠癌诊断方法的应用与评价

结直肠癌(colorectal cancer,CRC)是人类常见肿瘤之一,早期诊断对预防CRC的发病显得尤为重要.随着医学技术的发展,CRC的常规诊断方法已取得了很大进展,目前用于诊断CRC的检查方法主要有粪便排泄物检查、结肠镜检查、CT结肠成像检查、肿瘤分子标记物等,然而各诊断方法的敏感性和特异性存在一定差异.本文主要对目前CRC的常见诊断方法进行分析和评价,以期为CRC的临床预防和早期诊断提供更多的理论依据.     

IgG Expression in Human Colorectal Cancer and Its Relationship to Cancer Cell Behaviors

Increasing evidence indicates that various cancer cell types are capable of producing IgG. The exact function of cancer-derived IgG has, however, not been elucidated. Here we demonstrated the expression of IgG genes with V(D)J recombination in 80 cases of colorectal cancers, 4 colon cancer cell lines and a tumor bearing immune deficient mouse model. IgG expression was associated with tumor differentiation, pTNM stage, lymph node involvement and inflammatory infiltration and positively correlated with the expressions of Cyclin D1, NF-κB and PCNA. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of cancer-derived IgG on the malignant behaviors of colorectal cancer cells and showed that blockage of IgG resulted in increased apoptosis and negatively affected the potential for anchor-independent colony formation and cancer cell invasion. These findings suggest that IgG synthesized by colorectal cancer cells is involved in the development and growth of colorectal cancer and blockage of IgG may be a potential therapy in treating this cancer.     

Evaluation of lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 Expression as a Diagnostic Biomarker in Colorectal Cancer

Background:Colorectal cancer (CRC) is still considered one of the prevalent cancers worldwide. Investigation of potential biomarkers for early detection of CRC is essential for the effective management of patients using therapeutic strategies. Considering that, this study was aimed to examine the changes in lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 expression through colorectal tumorigenesis. Methods:Fifty CRC tumor tissues and fifty adjacent normal tissue samples were prepared and involved in the current study. Total RNA was extracted from the samples and then reverse transcribed to complementary DNA. Next, the expression levels of lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 were evaluated using real-time PCR in CRC samples compared to normal ones. Also, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of FOXD2-AS1 for CRC.Results:The obtained results showed that the expression level of FOXD2-AS1 gene was significantly (p<0.0001) up-regulated in tumor tissues compared to normal marginal tissues. Also, a significant correlation was observed between higher the expression of FOXD2-AS1and the differentiation of tumor cells. Furthermore, ROC curve analysis estimated an AUC value of 0.59 for FOXD2-AS1, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic target.Conclusion:Taken together, the current study implied that tissue-specific upregulation of lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 might be appropriate diagnostic biomarkers for CRC. Nonetheless, more studies are needed to validate these results and further illustrate FOXD2-AS1 function through colorectal tumorigenesis.Key Words: Biomarker, Colorectal cancer, FOXD2-AS1, lncRNA, qRT-PC     

Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colon Cancer: Analysis of Linkage to 2p15-16 Places the COCA1 Locus Telomeric to D2S123 and Reveals Genetic Heterogeneity in Seven Canadian Families

Hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant trait responsible for approximately 6% of colorectal cancers. Linkage of the HNPCC trait to the D2S123 locus on 2p15-16 has previously been reported in two families. This HNPCC locus is now designated “COCA1.” We have tested seven Canadian HNPCC families, who have a variety of clinical presentations, for linkage to a panel of microsatellite polymorphisms in the vicinity of D2S123. One family was clearly linked to the COCA1 locus (LOD = 4.21), and a second family is likely to be linked (LOD = 0.92). In three families linkage was excluded. In the remaining two families the data were inconclusive. In the linked family, individuals with cancer of the endometrium or ureter share a common haplotype with 12 family members with colorectal cancer. This supports the suspected association between these extracolonic neoplasms and the HNPCC syndrome. In addition, five of the six individuals with adenomatous polyps (but no colorectal cancer) have the same haplotype as the affected individuals, while the sixth carries a recombination. One individual with colorectal cancer carries a recombination that places the COCA1 locus telomeric to D2S123. This study localizes the COCA1 gene to an 8-cM region that is consistent with the location of the hMSH2 gene. We also confirm that families presently classified as HNPCC are genetically heterogeneous.     

大肠癌转移相关基因表达调控的生物信息学分析

大肠癌是常见的消化道恶性肿瘤,在中国呈逐年上升的趋势。对大肠癌发生发展转移的研究能够指导临床治疗,对研发新药也有着重要意义。本文通过对表达谱数据进行分析,通过表达谱差异数据进行功能富集,研究了大肠癌转移前的早期原发肿瘤的转录调控特点以及远隔器官转移后的大肠癌的转录调控特点,筛选出了部分能够受到多重调控并在转移后肿瘤组织中高表达的关键基因,通过对这些基因相互作用关系研究,构建出转移后关键基因相互作用调控网络,为大肠癌的治疗提供更多潜在靶点。     

Contribution of Multiparameter Flow Cytometry Immunophenotyping to the Diagnostic Screening and Classification of Pediatric Cancer

Pediatric cancer is a relatively rare and heterogeneous group of hematological and non-hematological malignancies which require multiple procedures for its diagnostic screening and classification. Until now, flow cytometry (FC) has not been systematically applied to the diagnostic work-up of such malignancies, particularly for solid tumors. Here we evaluated a FC panel of markers for the diagnostic screening of pediatric cancer and further classification of pediatric solid tumors. The proposed strategy aims at the differential diagnosis between tumoral vs. reactive samples, and hematological vs. non-hematological malignancies, and the subclassification of solid tumors. In total, 52 samples from 40 patients suspicious of containing tumor cells were analyzed by FC in parallel to conventional diagnostic procedures. The overall concordance rate between both approaches was of 96% (50/52 diagnostic samples), with 100% agreement for all reactive/inflammatory and non-infiltrated samples as well as for those corresponding to solid tumors (n = 35), with only two false negative cases diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma and anaplastic lymphoma, respectively. Moreover, clear discrimination between samples infiltrated by hematopoietic vs. non-hematopoietic tumor cells was systematically achieved. Distinct subtypes of solid tumors showed different protein expression profiles, allowing for the differential diagnosis of neuroblastoma (CD56^hi/GD2⁺/CD81^hi), primitive neuroectodermal tumors (CD271^hi/CD99⁺), Wilms tumors (>1 cell population), rhabdomyosarcoma (_nuMYOD1⁺/_numyogenin⁺), carcinomas (CD45⁻/EpCAM⁺), germ cell tumors (CD56⁺/CD45⁻/NG2⁺/CD10⁺) and eventually also hemangiopericytomas (CD45⁻/CD34⁺). In summary, our results show that multiparameter FC provides fast and useful complementary data to routine histopathology for the diagnostic screening and classification of pediatric cancer.     

C反应蛋白在结直肠癌患者中的表达及与预后的关系

摘要目的：4g讨C反应蛋白（CRr＇）在结直肠癌患者中的表达及与预后的关系。方法：采用免疫速率散射比浊法检测血清CRP,并与健康对照组进行比较,分析CRP与临床病理分期之间的关系,评价术前、术后CRP表达与预后的关系。结果：研究组术前CRP为（28．64±7．15）mg／L,术后降低为（7．83±1．03）mg／L,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,都高于对照组的（1．13±0．28）mg／L,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。CRP表达与年龄和性别中的表达差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,与T、N、M分期和分化程度有关（P〈0．05）。术前高、低CRP组的5年生存率分别为79．17％和95．24％,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;术后高、低CRP组的5年生存率分别为85．00％和88．00％,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：结直肠癌与炎症反应密切相关,CRP在其发生、发展中发挥着重要作用,术前CRP水平对疾病的预后具有一定的预测价值。     

Sex Differences in Colorectal Cancer Survival: Population-Based Analysis of 164,996 Colorectal Cancer Patients in Germany

Risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) is considerably higher in men compared to women; however, there is inconclusive evidence of sex differences in CRC prognosis. We aimed to assess and explain sex differences in 5-year relative survival using standard and model-based period analysis among 164,996 patients diagnosed with CRC from 1997 to 2006 and reported to 11 German cancer registries covering a population of 33 million inhabitants. Age-adjusted 5-year relative survival was higher in women (64.5% vs. 61.9%, P<0.0001). A substantial survival advantage of women was confirmed in multivariate analysis after adjusting for CRC stage and subsite in subjects under 65 years of age (relative excess risk, RER 0.86, 95% CI 0.82–0.90), but not in older subjects (RER 1.01, 95% CI 0.98–1.04); this pattern was similar in the 1st and in the 2nd to 5th year after diagnosis. The survival advantage of women varied by CRC stage and age and was most pronounced for localized disease (RERs 0.59–0.88 in various age subgroups) and in patients under 45 years of age (RERs 0.59, 0.72 and 0.76 in patients with localized, regional or advanced disease, respectively). On the contrary, sex differences in survival did not vary by location of CRC. In conclusion, our large population-based study confirmed a survival advantage of female compared to male CRC patients, most notably in young and middle aged patients and patients with localized disease. The effect of sex hormones, either endogenous or through hormonal replacement therapy, might be the most plausible explanation for the observed patterns.     

Multiplexed DNA Methylation Analysis in Colorectal Cancer Using Liquid Biopsy and Its Diagnostic and Predictive Value

Early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is of high importance as prognosis depends on tumour stage at the time of diagnosis. Detection of tumour-specific DNA methylation marks in cfDNA has several advantages over other approaches and has great potential for solving diagnostic needs. We report here the identification of DNA methylation biomarkers for CRC and give insights in our methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme coupled qPCR (MSRE-qPCR) system. Targeted microarrays were used to investigate the DNA methylation status of 360 cancer-associated genes. Validation was done by qPCR-based approaches. A focus was on investigating marker performance in cfDNA from 88 patients (44 CRC, 44 controls). Finally, the workflow was scaled-up to perform 180plex analysis on 110 cfDNA samples, to identify a DNA methylation signature for advanced colonic adenomas (AA). A DNA methylation signature (n = 44) was deduced from microarray experiments and confirmed by quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) and by MSRE-qPCR, providing for six genes’ single areas under the curve (AUC) values of >0.85 (WT1, PENK, SPARC, GDNF, TMEFF2, DCC). A subset of the signatures can be used for patient stratification and therapy monitoring for progressed CRC with liver metastasis using cfDNA. Furthermore, we identified a 35-plex classifier for the identification of AAs with an AUC of 0.80.     

CD133 Expression and the Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

CD133 has recently been reported as a marker of cancer stem-like cells in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, its predictive value in CRC still remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between the expression of CD133 and clinicopathological features and the outcome of CRC patients by performing a meta-analysis.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search for relevant studies published up to December 2012 was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE and ISI Web of Science. Only articles in which CD133 antigen was detected in situ localisation by immunohistochemical staining were included. This meta-analysis was done using RevMan 4.2 software.

Results

We found that a total of 15 studies involving 810 CD133-high and 1487 CD133-low patients met the inclusion criteria for the analysis of 5-year overall survival (OS) rate. In a random-effects model, the results showed that CD133-high expression in colorectal cancer was an independent prognostic marker correlating with both OS rate (RR = 0.67, 95%CI 0.54–0.82, P<0.01) and disease free survival (DFS) rate (RR = 0.71, 95%CI 0.52–0.96, P = 0.03). CD133-high expression was also associated with more T3,4 tumor invasion, N positive and vascular invasion cases, corresponding to a risk difference of 1.12 (95%CI 1.01–1.23, P = 0.03), 1.31 (95%CI 1.06–1.63, P = 0.01) and 1.24 (95%CI 1.08–1.41, P<0.01), respectively. However, when types of histology, lymphatic invasion and distant metastasis were considered, CD133 overexpression was not significantly related with these clinicopathological parameters.

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis results suggest that CD133 is an efficient prognostic factor in CRC. Higher CD133 expression is significantly associated with poorer clinical outcome and some clinicopathological factors such as T category, N category and vascular invasion in CRC patients.     

CCNB2在结直肠癌中的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨细胞周期蛋白B2(Cyclin B2,CCNB2)在结直肠癌组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法:选择45对结直肠癌组织及癌旁正常结直肠组织样本,分别采用实时定量PCR(qRT-PCR)方法和免疫组织化学技术检测CCNB2的mRNA和蛋白表达,并进一步分析CCNB2的表达与结直肠癌临床病理特征之间的关系。结果:结直肠癌组织中CCNB2 mRNA的表达显著高于癌旁正常结直肠组织,差异有统计学意义(P0.001),且CCNB2的mRNA表达与结直肠癌的肿瘤大小、浸润深度及TNM分期显著相关(P0.05),与年龄、性别、肿瘤位置、分化程度、脉管神经浸润、淋巴结转移和远处转移均无关(P0.05)。45例结直肠癌标本中39例表达(+~+++),6例表达(-)。CCNB2蛋白主要表达于结直肠癌细胞质中,少量见于细胞核。结直肠癌组织中CCNB2蛋白的阳性表达率为86.7%,显著高于癌旁正常结直肠组织,并与患者的性别、年龄、分化程度和肿瘤转移均无显著相关性(P0.05),但与肿瘤分期、浸润程度均显著相关(P0.05)。结论:CCNB2在结直肠癌中呈异常高表达,且与结直肠癌的发生发展相关,有望作为结直肠癌的诊断和预后预测参考指标。     

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic and Prognostic Serum Biomarkers of Colorectal Cancer

Background

Our systematic review summarizes the evidence concerning the accuracy of serum diagnostic and prognostic tests for colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

The databases MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched iteratively to identify the relevant literature for serum markers of CRC published from 1950 to August 2012. The articles that provided adequate information to meet the requirements of the meta-analysis of diagnostic and prognostic markers were included. A 2-by-2 table of each diagnostic marker and its hazard ratio (HR) and the confidence interval (CI) of each prognostic marker was directly or indirectly extracted from the included papers, and the pooled sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic marker and the pooled HR and the CI of the prognostic marker were subsequently calculated using the extracted data.

Results

In total, 104 papers related to the diagnostic markers and 49 papers related to the prognostic serum markers of CRC were collected, and only 19 of 92 diagnostic markers were investigated in more than two studies, whereas 21 out of 44 prognostic markers were included in two or more studies. All of the pooled sensitivities of the diagnostic markers with > = 3 repetitions were less than 50%, and the meta-analyses of the prognostic markers with more than 3 studies were performed, VEGF with highest (2.245, CI: 1.347–3.744) and MMP-7 with lowest (1.099, CI: 1.018–1.187)) pooled HRs are presented.

Conclusions

The quality of studies addressing the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of the tests was poor, and the results were highly heterogeneous. The poor characteristics indicate that these tests are of little value for clinical practice.     

LAT1在大肠癌中的表达及其与预后的相关性研究

目的:研究L型氨基酸转运子1(LATl)在大肠癌组织中的表达及其与大肠癌患者临床病理特征和预后的关系.方法:用免疫组织化学方法检测大肠癌组织和癌旁正常大肠组织中LAT1的表达水平,分析大肠癌组织中LAT1的表达与大肠癌患者临床病理特征和术后生存的关系.结果:LAT1在大部分大肠癌组织中表达呈阳性,阳性率为87.1％(81/93),而在癌旁正常大肠组织的阳性表达率仅为16.13％(15/93),显著低于大肠癌组织(P＜0.05).LAT1的表达水平与大肠癌患者的临床病理参数间无显著相关性,与患者的总生存期之间的相关性也无统计学意义(P＞0.05),但LAT1高表达的患者无进展生存期较低表达患者显著缩短(Log-rank P=0.046),单因素Cox回归分析表明LAT1高表达是影响大肠癌术后复发转移的潜在危险因素[HR=2.338(95％CI:0.990-5.523),P=0.053].结论:LAT1的表达可能作为判断大肠癌患者术后复发转移风险的参考指标,LAT1高表达的大肠癌患者术后复发转移风险较高.     

An Integrative CGH,MSI and Candidate Genes Methylation Analysis of Colorectal Tumors

Background

Different DNA aberrations processes can cause colorectal cancer (CRC). Herein, we conducted a comprehensive molecular characterization of 27 CRCs from Iranian patients.

Materials and Methods

Array CGH was performed. The MSI phenotype and the methylation status of 15 genes was established using MSP. The CGH data was compared to two established lists of 41 and 68 cancer genes, respectively, and to CGH data from African Americans. A maximum parsimony cladogram based on global aberrations was established.

Results

The number of aberrations seem to depend on the MSI status. MSI-H tumors displayed the lowest number of aberrations. MSP revealed that most markers were methylated, except RNF182 gene. P16 and MLH1 genes were primarily methylated in MSI-H tumors. Seven markers with moderate to high frequency of methylation (SYNE1, MMP2, CD109, EVL, RET, LGR and PTPRD) had very low levels of chromosomal aberrations. All chromosomes were targeted by aberrations with deletions more frequent than amplifications. The most amplified markers were CD248, ERCC6, ERGIC3, GNAS, MMP2, NF1, P2RX7, SFRS6, SLC29A1 and TBX22. Most deletions were noted for ADAM29, CHL1, CSMD3, FBXW7, GALNS, MMP2, NF1, PRKD1, SMAD4 and TP53. Aberrations targeting chromosome X were primarily amplifications in male patients and deletions in female patients. A finding similar to what we reported for African American CRC patients.

Conclusion

This first comprehensive analysis of CRC Iranian tumors reveals a high MSI rate. The MSI tumors displayed the lowest level of chromosomal aberrations but high frequency of methylation. The MSI-L were predominantly targeted with chromosomal instability in a way similar to the MSS tumors. The global chromosomal aberration profiles showed many similarities with other populations but also differences that might allow a better understanding of CRC''s clinico-pathological specifics in this population.