Genome-wide differences between microsatellite stable and unstable colorectal tumors

Abstract

Genomic copy number changes are frequently found in cancers and they have been demonstrated to contribute to carcinogenesis; and it is widely accepted that tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI) are genetically stable and mostly diploid. In the present study we compared the copy number alterations and the gene-expression profiles of microsatellite stable (MSS) and MSI colorectal tumors. A total number of 31 fresh-frozen primary tumors (16 MSS and 15 MSI) were used. Twenty-eight samples (15 MSS and 13 MSI) were analyzed with metaphase comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), nine of which plus one additional sample (4 MSS and 6 MSI) were further analyzed by cDNA-based array-CGH. Gene expression analysis was performed with six samples [3 MSS and 3 MSI, four of these used in metaphase CGH (mCGH) analysis] to identify differentially expressed genes possibly located in the lost or amplified regions found by CGH, stressing the biological significance of copy number changes. Metaphase and array-CGH analysis of two colon cancer cell lines (HTC116 and SW480, reported as MSI and MSS archetypes) gave comparable results. Alterations found by mCGH in MSS tumors were +20, +8q, -8p and -18q. Interestingly, 1p22, 4q26 and 15q21 were found deleted preferentially in MSS tumors, while 22q13 was found gained in MSI tumors. The regions of alterations identified by array-CGH were gains at 8q24, 16q24.3 and 20q13, and the loss of 5q21, appearing in the both types of tumors. Gene expression analysis revealed genes with specific associations with the copy number changes of the corresponding genomic regions. As a conclusion, colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease, demonstrated by the genomic profiles of individual samples. However, our data shows that copy number changes do not occur exclusively in the MSS phenotypes.

Allelic Imbalance at rs6983267 Suggests Selection of the Risk Allele in Somatic Colorectal Tumor Evolution

“…The amplification of chromosomal region 8q24 is a consistent finding in colorectal tumors and cell lines, both in MSI and MSS cancers (15,16). Chromosomal imbalances are generally more frequent in MSS than in MSI cancers and the target of amplification in 8q24 seems to differ: 8q24.21 being the target in MSS cancers and 8q24.3 in MSI cancers (15).…”

Human RNA polymerase II-associated factor complex: dysregulation in cancer

“…The 15q21 locus (Figure 3c) that contains the Leo1 gene is amplified in colorectal cancer and malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone (Camps et al, 2006;Tarkkanen et al, 2006). This region has a potential osteosarcoma suppressor gene identified by a hPAF complex in cancer K Chaudhary et al combination of synteny and microsatellite mapping (Nathrath et al, 2002).…”

Ctr9, a key subunit of PAFc, affects global estrogen signaling and drives ERα-positive breast tumorigenesis

“…This suggests that CTR9 may act as a tumor suppressor in some circumstances. Leo1 at 15q21 is amplified in colorectal cancer and malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the bone (Camps et al 2006;Tarkkanen et al 2006). Cdc73 is a tumor suppressor protein encoded by HRPT2 that is mutated in the germline of hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome patients (Carpten et al 2002;Rozenblatt-Rosen et al 2005).…”