[Expression of Wnt5a, APC, β-catenin and their clinical significance in human colorectal adenocarcinoma].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study the expression of Wnt5a gene mRNA and Wnt5a, APC, β-catenin proteins in human colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) and explore its clinical significance.

METHODS:

Wnt5a mRNA level was measured in 30 patients with CRC and paired non-tumor tissues by real-time PCR. Immunohistochemical staining of Wnt5a, APC, β-catenin was performed in samples of 62 patients with CRC using SP system.

RESULTS:

The relative expression level of Wnt5a mRNA in fresh CRC is 0.1232 ± 0.0140, which is significantly higher than that in adjacent colorectal mucosa (0.0497 ± 0.0074, P = 0.02). A low expression of Wnt5a protein was observed in 38 of 62 CRC. Wnt5a protein expression was closely correlated with the tumor types and the degree of tumor differentiation (P < 0.05). There was no apparent relationship with lymph node metastasis, depth of myometrial invasion and TNM stages (P > 0.05). APC protein was decreased in 38 of 62 CRC. The expression of APC was closely correlated with the tumor types (P < 0.05). There was no apparent relationship with the degree of tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, depth of myometrial invasion and TNM stages (P > 0.05). The expression of β-catenin was observed in cytoplasm and/or cell nuclei in 50 of 62 CRC. The positive rate of β-catenin expression was closely correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, depth of myometrial invasion and TNM stages (P < 0.05). There was no apparent relationship with the tumor types (P > 0.05). The expressions of Wnt5a (r = 0.271, P = 0.027) and APC (r = 0.343, P = 0.004) were correlated with that of β-catenin in CRC, respectively, but there was no correlation between the expressions of Wnt5a and APC protein (r = 0.218, P = 0.078) in the tumors.

CONCLUSIONS:

Wnt5a, APC and β-catenin genes might be involved in the carcinogenesis and development of CRC. It is hypothesized that down-regulation of APC and Wnt5a proteins may be one of causes of ectopic expression of β-catenin in CRC.

• Authors: Yong-cheng Cao, Fan Yang, Xiao-hong Liu, Xuan Xin, Cui-cui Wang, Ming Geng
• Journal: Zhonghua zhong liu za zhi [Chinese journal of oncology] (Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi) Vol. 34 Issue 9 Pg. 674-8 (Sep 2012) ISSN: 0253-3766 [Print] China
• PMID: 23159080 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• APC protein, human
• Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein
• CTNNB1 protein, human
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins
• RNA, Messenger
• WNT5A protein, human
• Wnt Proteins
• Wnt-5a Protein
• beta Catenin

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous (metabolism, pathology)
• Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein (metabolism)
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell (metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Differentiation
• Colorectal Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Down-Regulation
• Female
• Genes, APC
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Neoplasm Staging
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Wnt Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Wnt-5a Protein
• beta Catenin (metabolism)