Novel genes associated with colorectal cancer are revealed by high resolution cytogenetic analysis in a patient specific manner

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 30;8(10):e76251. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076251. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Genomic abnormalities leading to colorectal cancer (CRC) include somatic events causing copy number aberrations (CNAs) as well as copy neutral manifestations such as loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and uniparental disomy (UPD). We studied the causal effect of these events by analyzing high resolution cytogenetic microarray data of 15 tumor-normal paired samples. We detected 144 genes affected by CNAs. A subset of 91 genes are known to be CRC related yet high GISTIC scores indicate 24 genes on chromosomes 7, 8, 18 and 20 to be strongly relevant. Combining GISTIC ranking with functional analyses and degree of loss/gain we identify three genes in regions of significant loss (ATP8B1, NARS, and ATP5A1) and eight in regions of gain (CTCFL, SPO11, ZNF217, PLEKHA8, HOXA3, GPNMB, IGF2BP3 and PCAT1) as novel in their association with CRC. Pathway and target prediction analysis of CNA affected genes and microRNAs, respectively indicates TGF-β signaling pathway to be involved in causing CRC. Finally, LOH and UPD collectively affected nine cancer related genes. Transcription factor binding sites on regions of >35% copy number loss/gain influenced 16 CRC genes. Our analysis shows patient specific CRC manifestations at the genomic level and that these different events affect individual CRC patients differently.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cytogenetic Analysis
  • DNA Copy Number Variations
  • Female
  • Genomics / methods*
  • Humans
  • Loss of Heterozygosity
  • Male
  • Oncogenes*
  • Protein Binding
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Uniparental Disomy

Substances

  • Transcription Factors

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a research grant # RC10/083 awarded to MAA by King Abdullah International Medical Research Center. All the authors are employed by King Abdullah International Medical Research Center or National Guard Health Affairs. Both the institutions are part of King Abdul Aziz Medical City. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.