Regulator of Chromosome Condensation 2 Identifies High-Risk Patients within Both Major Phenotypes of Colorectal Cancer
Year: 2015
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer has high incidence and mortality worldwide. Patients with microsatellite instable (MSI) tumors have significantly better prognosis than patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors. Considerable variation in disease outcome remains a challenge within each subgroup, and our purpose was to identify biomarkers that improve prediction of colorectal cancer prognosis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Mutation analyses of 42 MSI target genes were performed in two independent MSI tumor series (n = 209). Markers that were significantly associated with prognosis in the test series were assessed in the validation series, followed by functional and genetic explorations. The clinical potential was further investigated by immunohistochemistry in a population-based colorectal cancer series (n = 903). RESULTS: We identified the cell-cycle gene regulator of chromosome condensation 2 (RCC2) as a cancer biomarker. We found a mutation in the 5' UTR region of RCC2 that in univariate and multivariate analyses was significantly associated with improved outcome in the MSI group. This mutation caused reduction of protein expression in dual luciferase gene reporter assays. siRNA knockdown in MSI colon cancer cells (HCT15) caused reduced cell proliferation, cell-cycle arrest, and increased apoptosis. Massive parallel sequencing revealed few RCC2 mutations in MSS tumors. However, weak RCC2 protein expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis, independent of clinical high-risk parameters, and stratifies clinically important patient subgroups with MSS tumors, including elderly patients (>75 years), stage II patients, and those with rectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired RCC2 affects functional and clinical endpoints of colorectal cancer. High-risk patients with either MSI or MSS tumors can be identified with cost-effective routine RCC2 assays.
Source: Clinical Cancer Research
Authors: Jarle Bruun, Matthias Kolberg, Terje C. Ahlquist, Ellen C. Røyrvik, Torfinn Nome, Edward Leithe, Guro E. Lind, Marianne A. Merok, Torleiv O. Rognum, Geir Bjørkøy, Terje Johansen, Annika Lindblom, Xiao-Feng Sun, Aud Svindland, Knut Liestøl, Arild Nesbakken, Rolf I. Skotheim, Ragnhild A. Lothe
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2119853462