ECA39 is a novel distant metastasis-related biomarker in colorectal cancer

World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Sep 28;12(36):5884-9. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i36.5884.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the possible role of polysaccharide-K (PSK) -related markers in predicting distant metastasis and in the clinical outcome of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: Firstly, we used protein microarrays to analyze the in vitro expression profiles of potential PSK-related markers in the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line SW480, which carries a mutant p53 gene. Then, we investigated the clinical implications of these markers in the prognosis of CRC patients.

Results: ECA39, a direct target of c-Myc, was identified as a candidate protein affected by the anti-metastatic effects of PSK. Immunohistochemistry revealed that ECA39 was expressed at significantly higher levels in tumor tissues with distant metastases compared to those without (P<0.00001). Positive ECA39 expression was shown to be highly reliable for the prediction of distant metastases (sensitivity: 86.7%, specificity: 90%, positive predictive value: 86.7%, negative predictive value: 90%). A significantly higher cumulative 5-yr disease free survival rate was observed in the ECA39-negative patient group (77.3%) compared with the ECA39-positive patient group (25.8%) (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that ECA39 is a dominant predictive factor for distant metastasis in patients with advanced CRC and that its suppression by PSK might represent a useful application of immunotherapy as part of a program of integrated medicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / genetics*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Proteoglycans / pharmacology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Transaminases / genetics
  • Transaminases / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Proteoglycans
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • polysaccharide-K
  • BCAT1 protein, human
  • Transaminases