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Published on: October 16, 2013
Preinvasive colorectal lesion transcriptomes correlate with endoscopic morphology (polypoid vs. nonpolypoid)
Elisa Cattaneo1, Endre Laczko, Federico Buffoli
1Institute of Molecular Cancer Research, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
EMBO Molecular Medicine
|May 4, 2011
Summary
Molecular differences exist between nonpolypoid and polypoid precancerous colorectal lesions. Nonpolypoid lesions show less severe molecular changes, with TMIGD1 potentially indicating intestinal cell differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Improved colonoscopy detects precancerous colorectal lesions, including nonpolypoid types previously missed.
- Approximately 30% of detected lesions exhibit nonpolypoid morphologies (slightly raised to depressed).
Purpose of the Study:
- To molecularly characterize nonpolypoid and polypoid precancerous colorectal lesions.
- To compare gene expression patterns between different lesion morphologies and normal mucosa.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression profiling of 23,768 genes in 42 precancerous lesions (25 nonpolypoid, 17 polypoid) and corresponding normal mucosa.
- Analysis of gene expression variance related to morphology, histology, size, and dysplasia.
Main Results:
- Morphology was the primary driver of gene expression variance.
- Polypoid lesions showed altered cell-cycling pathways, while nonpolypoid lesions exhibited dysregulated cell survival.
- Nonpolypoid lesions displayed fewer and less pronounced gene expression changes compared to polypoid lesions.
- Progressive loss of TMIGD1 mRNA and protein was observed from normal mucosa to nonpolypoid, polypoid lesions, and cancer.
Conclusions:
- Molecular dysregulation in nonpolypoid precancerous colorectal lesions is less severe than in classic adenomatous polyps.
- TMIGD1 may play a role in intestinal cell differentiation, with its expression decreasing with lesion progression.
