Vergleichende Genexpressionsanalyse beim kolorektalen Karzinom

Abstract

The progression and metastasis of malignant solid tumors is a multistep process, which is influenced by various genetic factors. In particular in colon adenocarcinomas, several genes and signaling pathways, which influence tumor progression, have been identified. Activating mutations of K-RAS or inactivating mutations of p53 represent key steps in colon cancer progression. However only a few genes responsible for the metastasis of colon carcinomas are known, while nothing is known about genes involved in the organ-specificity of metastasis. There are no reliable markers that predict a tumor’s metastatic potential. We have performed a comparative gene expression analysis of 89 colorectal cancer samples, 39 primary tumors and 50 metastasis (lymph node, lung, liver). Tumor cells were isolated by laser capture microdissection. Dysregulated genes that differ significantly between primary tumors and specific sites of metastases were identified.

Furthermore a molecular profile can distinguish between primary tumors with high and low metastatic potential.