Clinical significance of stromal apoptosis in colorectal cancer.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Epithelial and stromal cells play an important role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to determine the prognostic significance of both epithelial and stromal cell apoptosis in CRC.Methods
Total apoptosis was determined by caspase-3 activity measurements in protein homogenates of CRC specimens and adjacent normal mucosa of 211 CRC patients. Epithelial apoptosis was determined by an ELISA specific for a caspase-3-degraded cytokeratin 18 product, the M30 antigen. Stromal apoptosis was determined from the ratio between total and epithelial apoptosis.Results
Epithelial and stromal apoptosis, as well as total apoptosis, were significantly higher in CRC compared with corresponding adjacent normal mucosa. Low total tumour apoptosis (< or = median caspase-3 activity) was associated with a significantly worse disease recurrence (hazard ratio (HR), 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.77 (1.05-3.01)), independent of clinocopathological parameters. Epithelial apoptosis was not associated with clinical outcome. In contrast, low stromal apoptosis (< or = median caspase-3/M30) was found to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival, disease-free survival and disease recurrence, with HRs (95% CI) of 1.66 (1.17-2.35), 1.62 (1.15-2.29) and 1.69 (1.01-2.85), respectively.Interpretation
Stromal apoptosis, in contrast to epithelial apoptosis, is an important factor with respect to survival and disease-recurrence in CRC.
SUBMITTER: Koelink PJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2736838 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Similar Datasets
Project description:Purpose and Experimental Design: The purpose of this study is to find a methylation-related gene that could become a biomarker or therapeutic target in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). We screened candidate genes suspected to be silenced by DNA methylation using oligonucleotide microarray analysis. To investigate the clinical significance of one candidate gene (UNC5B), we analyzed the correlation between mRNA expression and clinicopathological features using clinical tissue samples. Finally, methylation specific PCR analysis was performed to reveal whether the promoter region was methylated in CRC cell lines. Results: We found 75 candidate genes that were potentially suppressed by DNA methylation in CRC. We focused on UNC5B, a possible tumor suppressor gene and regulator of apoptosis known to be inactivated in CRC. The mRNA expression analysis using tissue samples revealed that UNC5B mRNA was down-expressed in about 20% of CRC patients, and the patients with low-UNC5B-expression tumors showed a significantly higher recurrence rate after curative surgery. According to the univariate and multivariate analysis, low UNC5B expression was an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence in stage I, II, and III CRC patients. Furthermore, patients with low expression of UNC5B in tumors had significantly poorer prognosis than those with high expression of UNC5B. Although UNC5B mRNA expression was restored by the demethylation treatment in CRC cell lines, the promoter region of UNC5B was not methylated. Conclusion: UNC5B is a potential biomarker for the selection of patients with high risk of postoperative recurrence and worse prognosis in CRC.
2011-12-04 | GSE22598 | GEO
Project description:Purpose: This study aimed to identify a novel biomarker or a target of treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC). Experimental Design: The expression profiles of cancer cells in 104 patients with CRC were examined using laser microdissection and oligonucleotide microarray analysis. Overexpression in CRC cells especially in patients with distant metastasis was a prerequisite to select candidate genes. The mRNA expression of candidate gene was investigated by quantitative reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 77 patients as a validation study. We analyzed the protein expression and localization of the candidate gene by immunohistochemical study, and investigated the relationship between the expression and the clinicopathological feature in 274 CRC patients. Results: We identified 6 genes as candidates related to distant metastasis in CRC patients by microarray analysis. Among these genes, Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is known to have an association with aggressiveness in several cancers through inhibiting apoptosis by neutralizing the function of tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL). The mRNA expression of OPG in cancer tissues was significantly higher in patients with distant metastasis than those without metastasis. The overexpression of OPG protein was significantly associated with worse overall survival and relapse free survival (RFS). Moreover, the overexpression of OPG protein was an independent risk factor for recurrence of CRC. Conclusion: The overexpression of OPG would be a predictive biomarker of recurrence and a target of the treatment for CRC. Total of 148 microarray datasets obtained from LCM and homogenized tissues of colorectal cancer patients were normalized using robust multi-array average (RMA) method under R 2.6.2 statistical software with affy package from BioConductor. Normalization was separately performed for LCM dataset and homogenized tissue dataset. The normalized gene expression levels were presented as log2-transformed values by RMA.
2011-02-28 | E-GEOD-21510 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Purpose: This study aimed to identify a novel biomarker or a target of treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC). Experimental Design: The expression profiles of cancer cells in 104 patients with CRC were examined using laser microdissection and oligonucleotide microarray analysis. Overexpression in CRC cells especially in patients with distant metastasis was a prerequisite to select candidate genes. The mRNA expression of candidate gene was investigated by quantitative reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 77 patients as a validation study. We analyzed the protein expression and localization of the candidate gene by immunohistochemical study, and investigated the relationship between the expression and the clinicopathological feature in 274 CRC patients. Results: We identified 6 genes as candidates related to distant metastasis in CRC patients by microarray analysis. Among these genes, Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is known to have an association with aggressiveness in several cancers through inhibiting apoptosis by neutralizing the function of tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL). The mRNA expression of OPG in cancer tissues was significantly higher in patients with distant metastasis than those without metastasis. The overexpression of OPG protein was significantly associated with worse overall survival and relapse free survival (RFS). Moreover, the overexpression of OPG protein was an independent risk factor for recurrence of CRC. Conclusion: The overexpression of OPG would be a predictive biomarker of recurrence and a target of the treatment for CRC.
2011-02-28 | GSE21510 | GEO
Project description:The growth arrest-specific 2 (GAS2) was cloned and found to be upregulated in the feces of recurrent CRC patients. This overexpressed GAS2 induced different patterns of gene expressions in CRC cells. Briefly, one cell proliferation marker, Ki-67 antigen (Ki-67), was upregulated in the cells with overexpressed GAS2, "Correlation between proliferation markers: PCNA, Ki-67, MCM-2 and antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 in colorectal cancer" [1]. Whereas, the expression of another cell proliferation marker, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), changed insignificantly [1]. In addition, the mRNA level of one cyclin involving in both cell cycle G1/S and G2/M transitions was also not affected by GAS2 overexpression, "Cdc20 and Cks direct the spindle checkpoint-independent destruction of cyclin A" [2]. The experimental design and procedures in this article can be helpful for understanding the molecular significance of GAS2 in SW480 and SW620 CRC cells.
| S-EPMC4887555 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveThe mesentery is a potential site of residual tumor in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mesenteric immune microenvironment remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the immune landscape of the mesentery, particularly the role of lymphocytes and its association with the clinicopathological characteristics of CRC.MethodsFlow cytometry was used to detect lymphocytes in the paired mesenteric tissue specimens adjacent to the colorectal tumors and normal mesenteric tissue specimens 10 cm away from the colorectal tumor edge and preoperative peripheral blood samples obtained from patients with CRC who underwent surgery. T-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding was utilized to analyze multiparameter flow cytometry data. Multiplex immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate T cells subsets in the paired mesentery adjacent to the colorectal tumors and normal mesentery. The Fisher's exact test and non-parametric Wilcoxon's matched-pairs tests were used for statistical analysis. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine associations between percentage data and clinical parameters of patients with CRC.ResultsWe found that immune cells in the normal mesentery were mainly of lymphoid lineage. Compared with peripheral blood, the normal mesentery showed decreased NK cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio and increased CD3+ CD56+, memory CD4+ T, memory CD8+ T, CD4+ tissue-resident memory T (TRM), and CD8+ TRM cells. Compared with the normal mesentery, the mesentery adjacent to the colorectal tumor showed increased B and regulatory T cells and decreased NK, CD3+ CD56+, CD4+ TRM, and CD8+ TRM cells. Moreover, memory CD8+ T cells and plasmablasts are negatively correlated with the depth of invasion of CRC. Increased memory CD4+ T cells are associated with distant metastasis of CRC and high preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels.ConclusionThe mesentery shows a specific immune microenvironment, which differs from that observed in peripheral blood. CRC can alter the mesenteric immune response to promote tumor progression.
| S-EPMC8481834 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) represents the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Lack of reliable biomarkers remains a critical issue for early detection of CRC. In this study, we investigated the potential predictive values of circulating prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis in CRC risk.MethodsProfiles of circulating PG biosynthesis and platelet counts were determined in healthy subjects (n = 16), familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients who were classified as regular aspirin users (n = 14) or nonusers (n = 24), and CRC patients with (n = 18) or without FAP history (n = 20). Immunohistochemistry staining was performed on biopsy samples.ResultsAnalysis of circulating PG biosynthesis unexpectedly revealed that CRC progression is accompanied by a pronounced elevation of circulating thromboxane A2 (TXA2) levels. When a circulating TXA2 level of 1000 pg/mL was selected as a practical cutoff point, 95% of CRC patients were successfully identified. Further study suggested that the TXA2 pathway is constitutively activated during colorectal tumorigenesis and required for anchorage-independent growth of colon cancer cells.ConclusionsThis study established the importance of the TXA2 pathway in CRC pathophysiology, and laid the groundwork for introducing a TXA2-targeting strategy to CRC prevention, early detection and management.
| S-EPMC4347518 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:Most breast cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are active and important cancer-promoting cells, with significant impact on patient prognosis. Therefore, we investigated here the role of the protein kinase ATR in breast stromal fibroblasts in the prognosis of locally advanced breast cancer patients. METHODS:We have used immunohistochemistry to assess the level of ATR in breast cancer tissues and their adjacent normal tissues. Immunoblotting as well as quantitative RT-PCR were utilized to show the role of breast cancer cells and IL-6 as well as AUF-1 in downregulating ATR in breast stromal fibroblasts. Engineered human breast tissue model was also used to show that ATR-deficient breast stromal fibroblasts enhance the growth of breast cancer cells. RESULTS:We have shown that the protein kinase ATR is downregulated in cancer cells and their neighboring CAFs in breast cancer tissues as compared to their respective adjacent normal tissues. The implication of cancer cells in ATR knockdown in CAFs has been proven in vitro by showing that breast cancer cells downregulate ATR in breast fibroblasts in an IL-6/STAT3-dependent manner and via AUF-1. In another cohort of 103 tumors from locally advanced breast cancer patients, we have shown that absence or reduced ATR expression in tumoral cells and their adjacent stromal fibroblasts is correlated with poor overall survival as well as disease-free survival. Furthermore, ATR expression in CAFs was inversely correlated with tumor recurrence and progression. CONCLUSION:ATR downregulation in breast CAFs is frequent, procarcinogenic, and correlated with poor patient survival.
| S-EPMC7229635 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major health problem worldwide and the detailed mechanisms of CRC still need further understanding. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a special class of endogenous RNAs, have emerged recently as a new potential player in governing fundamental biological process and cancer progression. In this study, we chose circRNA0003906 as a targeted circRNA to evaluate its expression pattern and clinical value in CRC patients. circRNA0003906 expression level in 6 CRC cell lines and 122 paired CRC tissues was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Then, the potential correlation between circRNA0003906 expression level and clinicopathological factors of CRC patients was analyzed. Additionally, a receiver operating characteristic curve was built to evaluate the diagnostic value of circRNA0003906. Our results showed that circRNA0003906 expression level was dramatically downregulated in both CRC tissues and cell lines. Moreover, the downregulation of circRNA0003906 level significantly correlated with lymphatic metastasis and poor differentiation. In addition, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of circRNA0003906 for CRC was 0.818 (P<0.001). Taking consideration of all of these results, circRNA0003906 may be potentially involved in the colorectal cancerogenesis and serve as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.
| S-EPMC5661852 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest tumours, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. The involvement of differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in CRC tumorigenesis makes them suitable tumour biomarkers.Methods/findingsHere, we screened 150 cases of CRC and 85 cases of paracancerous tissues in the GEO database for differentially expressed lncRNAs. The levels of lncRNA candidates in 84 CRC and paracancerous tissue samples were validated by qRT-PCR and their clinical significance was analyzed. We identified 15 lncRNAs with differential expression in CRC tumours; among them, AK098081 was significantly up-regulated, whereas AK025209, BC040303, BC037331, AK026659, and CR749831 were down-regulated in CRC. In a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve for the six lncRNAs was 0.914. High expression of AK098081 and low expression of BC040303, CR749831, and BC037331 indicated poor CRC differentiation. CRC patients with lymph node metastasis had lower expression of BC037331. In addition, the group with high AK098081 expression presented significantly lower overall survival and disease-free survival rates than the low-expression group, confirming AK098081 as an independent risk factor for CRC patients.Conclusion/significanceIn conclusion, we have identified multiple CRC-associated lncRNAs from microarray expression profiles that can serve as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC.
| S-EPMC5082825 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Tumor budding is a definite prognostic marker, but does not always show favorable reproducibility. We developed a new molecular signature related to tumor budding levels, a microscopic finding of dedifferentiation, using RNA extracted from the whole tissue section and disclosed its relevance to a high recurrence risk using an inhouse dataset and independent public datasets.
2020-04-24 | GSE143985 | GEO