Expression of sFRP-4 and beta-catenin in human colorectal carcinoma

Cancer Lett. 2006 Jan 8;231(1):129-37. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2005.01.026.

Abstract

Alterations to the Wnt signalling pathway occur in the majority of colorectal cancers and result in abnormal accumulation of beta-catenin. The secreted frizzled related proteins (sFRPs) are antagonists that bind Wnt and inhibit signalling along this pathway. We investigated expression of the sFRP family member, sFRP-4, and beta-catenin in 1,044 human colorectal carcinomas using tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry. Both proteins showed markedly increased expression levels in tumors compared to normal mucosa, but no significant associations with pathological features or with patient outcome. sFRP-4 was co-expressed with beta-catenin, p53, and COX-2, while the absence of beta-catenin expression was strongly associated with loss of expression of the MLH1 mismatch repair gene. In contrast to other sFRP family members, sFRP-4 expression appears to be upregulated in colorectal carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Base Pair Mismatch
  • Carcinoma / genetics*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carrier Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • DNA Repair
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1
  • Nuclear Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Up-Regulation
  • beta Catenin / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • MLH1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • SFRP4 protein, human
  • beta Catenin
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1