Iron can play a role in
colorectal cancer (CRC) development. The expression of genes involved in
iron metabolism and its regulation in CRC has not been investigated well. Also the correlation between the level of
iron-related genes expression and
cancer progression is not known. In this study we collected paired samples of primary
adenocarcinoma and adjacent normal mucosa from 73 patients. We assessed the
mRNA or
miRNA levels of 21 genes and verify their association with clinicopathological characteristics of CRC patients. Our experiments revealed, that the level of divalent
metal transporter 1 transcript is well correlated with
mRNA levels of
iron regulatory proteins (IRPs) in
tumor specimens. We have shown, that IRP2 can also be engaged in the
mRNA stabilization of other
iron transporter-
transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) in early stage of disease, however, in more advanced stages of CRC,
mRNA level of TfR1 is related to miR-31 level. For the first time we have shown, that
ferroportin concentration is significantly associated with miR-194 level, causing the reduction of this transporter amount in
tumor tissues of patients with more advanced stages of CRC. We have also shown the alterations in expressing profile of miR-31, miR-133a, miR-141, miR-145, miR-149, miR-182 and miR-194, which were observed even in the early stage of disease, and identified a set of genes, which take place in correct assigning of patients in dependence of CRC stage. These
iron-related genes could become potential diagnostic or prognostic indicators for patients with CRC.