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Updated: May 27, 2026
Discovery of Driver Genes in Colorectal HT29-derived Cancer Stem-Like Tumorspheres
Published on: July 22, 2020
Comparative kinome analysis to identify putative colon tumor biomarkers
Ewa E Hennig1, Michal Mikula, Tymon Rubel
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical Center for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract:
Kinase domains are the type of protein domain most commonly found in genes associated with tumorigenesis. Because of this, the human kinome (the protein kinase component of the genome) represents a promising source of cancer biomarkers and potential targets for novel anti-cancer therapies. Alterations in the human colon kinome during the progression from normal colon (NC) through adenoma (AD) to adenocarcinoma (AC) were investigated using integrated transcriptomic and proteomic datasets. Two hundred thirty kinase genes and 42 kinase proteins showed differential expression patterns (fold change ≥ 1.5) in at least one tissue pair-wise comparison (AD vs. NC, AC vs. NC, and/or AC vs. AD). Kinases that exhibited similar trends in expression at both the mRNA and protein levels were further analyzed in individual samples of NC (n = 20), AD (n = 39), and AC (n = 24) by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. Individual samples of NC and tumor tissue were distinguishable based on the mRNA levels of a set of 20 kinases. Altered expression of several of these kinases, including chaperone activity of bc1 complex-like (CABC1) kinase, bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger domain protein 1B (BAZ1B) kinase, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit delta (CAMK2D), serine/threonine-protein kinase 24 (STK24), vaccinia-related kinase 3 (VRK3), and TAO kinase 3 (TAOK3), has not been previously reported in tumor tissue. These findings may have diagnostic potential and may lead to the development of novel targeted therapeutic interventions for colorectal cancer.
Insights
Altered kinase gene and protein expression is observed during colorectal cancer progression. A set of 20 kinases can distinguish normal colon tissue from tumors, offering potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Kinase domains are frequently implicated in tumorigenesis.
- The human kinome is a potential source for cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
- Understanding colon kinome alterations is crucial for colorectal cancer research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in the human colon kinome during colorectal cancer progression.
- To identify differentially expressed kinases at mRNA and protein levels.
- To discover novel kinase biomarkers for colorectal cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Main Methods:
- Integrated analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic datasets.
- Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR for validation in individual samples.
- Differential expression analysis of kinase genes and proteins.
Main Results:
- 230 kinase genes and 42 kinase proteins showed differential expression.
- A set of 20 kinases could distinguish normal colon tissue from tumors based on mRNA levels.
- Novel kinase alterations were identified, including CABC1, BAZ1B, CAMK2D, STK24, VRK3, and TAOK3.
Conclusions:
- Kinome alterations are significant during colorectal cancer progression.
- A specific set of 20 kinases shows diagnostic potential for colorectal cancer.
- Identified kinases may serve as novel therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer treatment.
