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Colorectal tumors frequently express phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase

Sug Hyung Lee1, Jong Woo Lee, Young Hwa Soung

  • 1Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Banpo-dong, Socho-gu, Seoul.

APMIS : Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica, Et Immunologica Scandinavica
|July 6, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (pMEK) is frequently detected in colorectal tumors, including adenomas. This suggests pMEK activation may be an early event in colorectal cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway is implicated in tumorigenesis.
  • Mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) is a key component of this pathway, activated by phosphorylation.
  • Previous studies noted pMEK expression in malignancies, but not primary colon tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of phosphorylated MEK (pMEK) in primary human colorectal tumors.
  • To determine if pMEK expression correlates with colorectal tumor development.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze pMEK expression.
  • 123 colorectal tumors and normal colonic mucosa samples were examined.

Main Results:

  • pMEK was detected in 76% of colorectal tumors (93/123).
  • pMEK expression was observed in the cytoplasm (63 cases) and nucleus (40 cases).
  • Tubular and villous adenomas showed pMEK expression in 30% and 40% of cases, respectively, unlike normal colonic mucosa.

Conclusions:

  • Mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) is frequently phosphorylated in colorectal tumors.
  • The frequent phosphorylation of MEK suggests its potential role in the development of colorectal tumors.

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