Colorectal Cancer
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 14, 2008; 14(38): 5823-5826
Published online Oct 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.5823
Transcription factor PDX-1 in human colorectal adenocarcinoma: A potential tumor marker?
Nikiforos Ballian, Shi-He Liu, Francis Charles Brunicardi
Nikiforos Ballian, Shi-He Liu, Francis Charles Brunicardi, the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, 1709 Dryden, Suite 1500 Houston, TX 77030, United States
Author contributions: Ballian N analyzed data, wrote manuscript; Liu SH performed research, analyzed data; Brunicardi FC treated physician, procured tissue specimens.
Correspondence to: Francis Charles Brunicardi, MD, FACS, the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, 1709 Dryden, Suite 1500, Houston, TX 77030, United States. cbrunica@bcm.edu
Telephone: +1-713-7988020 Fax: +1-713-7986609
Received: March 23, 2008
Revised: August 20, 2008
Accepted: August 27, 2008
Published online: October 14, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To examine the expression of pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1) transcription factor in human colorectal cancer.

METHODS: RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immuno-histochemistry were performed to determine the expression pattern of transcription factor PDX-1 in primary colorectal tumor, hepatic metastasis, and benign colon tissue from a single patient.

RESULTS: The highest PDX-1 transcription levels were detected in the metastasis material. Lower levels of PDX-1 were found to be present in the primary tumor, while normal colon tissue failed to express detectable levels of PDX-1. Western blot data revealed a PDX-1 expression pattern identical to that of mRNA expression. Immunohistochemistry confirmed high metastasis PDX-1 expression, lower levels in the primary tumor, and the presence of only traces of PDX-1 in normal colon tissue.

CONCLUSION: These data argue for further evaluation of PDX-1 as a biomarker for colorectal cancer.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1; Tumor marker; Transcription factor; Diagnostics