Longitudinal variation in O6-alkylguanine DNA-alkyltransferase activity in the human colon and rectum

doi:doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6600455

British Journal of Cancer (2002) 87, 168–170. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6600455 www.bjcancer.com
Published online 9 July 2002

Longitudinal variation in O⁶-alkylguanine DNA-alkyltransferase activity in the human colon and rectum

N P Lees^1,2, K L Harrison^1,3, E Hill³, C N Hall², G P Margison¹ and A C Povey^1,3

¹Cancer Research UK, Carcinogenesis Group, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Manchester M20 9BX, UK
²Department of General Surgery, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
³School of Epidemiology and Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK

Correspondence: A C Povey, School of Epidemiology and Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT; E-mail: Andy.Povey@man.ac.uk

Received 11 January 2002; Revised 29 April 2002; Accepted 8 May 2002.

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Abstract

In a systematic study of O⁶-alkylguanine DNA-alkyltransferase activity in the human colon and rectum, tumours were found to occur in regions of low activity. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that O⁶-alkylguanine DNA-alkyltransferase levels and alkylating agent exposure may be important determinants of large bowel tumorigenesis.