Project description:Abnormal DNA methylation is a hallmark of human cancers and may be a promising biomarker for early diagnosis of human cancers1. However, the majority of DNA methylation biomarkers that have been identified are based on the hypothesis that early differential methylation regions (DMRs) are maintained throughout carcinogenesis and could be detected at all stages of cancer. In this study, we identified potential early biomarkers of colorectal cancer (CRC) development by genome-wide DNA methylation assay (Illumina infinium450, 450K) to normal (N=20) and pre-colorectal cancer samples including 18 low-grade adenoma (LGA) and 22 high-grade adenoma (HGA).
Project description:Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Profiles of Low- and High-Grade Adenoma Reveals Potential Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Colorectal Carcinoma
Project description:The colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence describes the stepwise progression from normal to dysplastic epithelium and then to carcinoma; only a small proportion of colorectal adenoma (CRA) progresses to colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Presently, endoscopic intervention is used on patients with CRAs of high grade dysplasia, diameters > 1 cm, or villous components > 25% who are at higher risk than other CRA sufferers. During the process, biopsy samples were taken for conventional histological diagnosis, but poor pathomorphological sensitivity and specificity greatly limit the diagnostic accuracy. Unfortunately, there are no reliable molecular criteria available that can predict the potential development of CRA to CRC. In present study, we use microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying the gradual progress of colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence.
Project description:Approximately two decades ago, Vogelstein and Fearon proposed the adenoma-carcinoma sequence of sporadic CRC development and illustrated the accumulation of genetic alterations during the stepwise progression, thereby providing a guideline for clinical practice. Although the detection and excision of precancerous lesions could prevent colorectal cancer and reduce mortality, 6% of adenomas will ultimately develop into colorectal cancer. Thus, this genetic model for colorectal tumorigenesis may not completely reflect the complex essence of the disease and whether the mode of initiation of the events in the multistep progression affects the outcome of CRC is still unknown. In this study, mRNA and miRNA expression profiling was performed with human colorectal tissues, including normal mucosa, adenoma and adenocarcinoma. Then, an integrated approach was adopted to establish the regulatory interaction networks that were correlated with colorectal carcinogenesis. Finally, a 55-gene signature whose expression was down-regulated in precancerous lesions compared to normal tissue was identified as a potential early indicator of CRC survival. The results suggested that genes related to immunity and homeostasis played a critical role in protection against adenoma initiation and that the altered molecular events that influence colorectal cancer prognosis may be set in an early, precancerous stage. Four types of human colorectal tissues were selected by colonoscopic resection or colorectal surgery, including 12 normal mucosae, 21 low-grade adenomas (mild or moderate atypical hyperplasia), 30 high-grade adenomas (severe atypical hyperplasia or carcinoma in situ) and 25 adenocarcinomas. Gene expression profiling analysis of these samples was performed using Agilent 4x44K human whole genome gene expression microarray (G4112F).
Project description:Approximately two decades ago, Vogelstein and Fearon proposed the adenoma-carcinoma sequence of sporadic CRC development and illustrated the accumulation of genetic alterations during the stepwise progression, thereby providing a guideline for clinical practice. Although the detection and excision of precancerous lesions could prevent colorectal cancer and reduce mortality, 6% of adenomas will ultimately develop into colorectal cancer. Thus, this genetic model for colorectal tumorigenesis may not completely reflect the complex essence of the disease and whether the mode of initiation of the events in the multistep progression affects the outcome of CRC is still unknown. In this study, mRNA and miRNA expression profiling was performed with human colorectal tissues, including normal mucosa, adenoma and adenocarcinoma. Then, an integrated approach was adopted to establish the regulatory interaction networks that were correlated with colorectal carcinogenesis. Finally, a 55-gene signature whose expression was down-regulated in precancerous lesions compared to normal tissue was identified as a potential early indicator of CRC survival. The results suggested that genes related to immunity and homeostasis played a critical role in protection against adenoma initiation and that the altered molecular events that influence colorectal cancer prognosis may be set in an early, precancerous stage. Four types of human colorectal tissues were selected by colonoscopic resection or colorectal surgery, including 15 normal mucosae, 39 low-grade adenomas (mild or moderate atypical hyperplasia), 20 high-grade adenomas (severe atypical hyperplasia or carcinoma in situ) and 33 adenocarcinomas. MicroRNA expression profiling analysis of these samples was performed on Agilent 8Ã16K Human miRNA Microarray V3 (G4470C).
Project description:Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major cause of cancer related-death in developed countries. The risk of death is correlated with the stage of CRC determined at the primary diagnosis and early diagnosis is associated with enhanced survival rate. Consequently, there is an interest in using proteomics technologies to identify specific markers of adenomatous polyps as well as advanced stages of CRC.This study supports the concept that serum proteins can discriminate adenoma and CRC patients from unaffected patients and highlights the value of the SERPIN family as potential biomarkers of CRC.
Project description:Chromosomal instability (CIN) is the hallmark of colorectal adenoma to carcinoma progression in 85% of cases, with 20q gain as the most prominent aberration. Yet, the oncogenes at this chromosomal gain are still largely unknown. Here, we aimed to identify oncogenes at 20q involved in colorectal adenoma to carcinoma progression by measuring the effect of 20q gain on gene expression in this amplicon. Segmentation of DNA copy number changes on 20q was performed by array CGH in 67 colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. Additionally, robust analysis of mRNA expression in these segments was performed in 68 adenomas and carcinomas. This approach revealed seven genes to be important in CIN related adenoma to carcinoma progression. These genes may both serve as highly specific biomarkers for presence of high-risk precursor lesions as well as potential targets for pharmaceutical intervention. Keywords: Integration of array CGH and expression microarrays in colorectal cancer progression
Project description:We tried to examine whether the de novo colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) without an adenoma component can be discriminated from those deriving from adenoma by DNA copy-number alteration profile. The unsupervised clustering of DNA copy-number profiles of 112 colorectal cancer samples, using large-sized (≥ 9 probes) genes, disclosed 4 clusters: Clusters 1, 3, and 4 correspond to carcinoma with an adenoma component. Cluster 2 and some samples in cluster 3 correspond to carcinoma without adenoma component. Our approach suggested that Cluster 2 may represent de novo CRCs since penetrance plots were very different between cluster 2 and the other clusters. Adenocarcinoma in cluster 3 have higher potential for lymph node metastasis than those in cluster 1 and 4 and can derive from clusters 1/4 tumors.
Project description:Differential diagnosis of adrenocortical adenoma and carcinoma is of pivotal clinical relevance, as the prognosis and clinical management of benign and malignant adrenocortical tumours is entirely different. Circulating microRNAs are promising biomarker candidates of malignancy in several tumours. In the present study we investigate circulating microRNAs in adrenocortical tumours and to evaluate their potential applicability as biomarkers of malignancy.
Project description:Chromosomal instability (CIN) is the hallmark of colorectal adenoma to carcinoma progression in 85% of cases, with 20q gain as the most prominent aberration. Yet, the oncogenes at this chromosomal gain are still largely unknown. Here, we aimed to identify oncogenes at 20q involved in colorectal adenoma to carcinoma progression by measuring the effect of 20q gain on gene expression in this amplicon. Segmentation of DNA copy number changes on 20q was performed by array CGH in 67 colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. Additionally, robust analysis of mRNA expression in these segments was performed in 68 adenomas and carcinomas. This approach revealed seven genes to be important in CIN related adenoma to carcinoma progression. These genes may both serve as highly specific biomarkers for presence of high-risk precursor lesions as well as potential targets for pharmaceutical intervention. Keywords: Integration of array CGH and expression microarrays in colorectal cancer progression We performed array CGH on a panel of 41 progressed adenomas, from which the adenoma and carcinoma components were separately analysed (total, 82 samples). The DNA obtained from these samples was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material. Additionally we analysed a series of independent frozen adenomas and carcinomas by array CGH (34 adenomas and 33 carcinomas) and expression microarrays (37 adenomas and 31 carcinomas). For array-CGH we used as reference DNA for all samples, a pool of 10 normal individuals. For expression microarrays we used as reference a commercial available RNA (pool of different cancer cell lines), from Strategene. No replicates nor dye swaps were done.