Differential Expression of cdc25 Cell-Cycle|[ndash]|Activating Phosphatases in Human Colorectal Carcinoma

doi:doi:10.1038/labinvest.3780254

Lab Invest 2001, 81:465–473

Differential Expression of cdc25 Cell-Cycle–Activating Phosphatases in Human Colorectal Carcinoma

Silvia Hernández¹, Xavier Bessa², Sílvia Beà¹, Lluis Hernández¹, Alfons Nadal³, Carme Mallofré¹, Jaume Muntane¹, Antoni Castells², Pedro L Fernández¹, Antonio Cardesa¹ and Elias Campo¹

¹Laboratory of Pathology, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer(IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
²Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer(IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
³Hospital Casa de Maternitat, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer(IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Correspondence: Dr. Elias Campo, Laboratory of Pathology, Hospital Clinic, Villarroel 170, 08036-Barcelona, Spain. E-mail: campo@medicina.ub.es

Received 26 October 2000.

Top

Abstract

cdc25 is a family of cell-cycle phosphatases that activate the cyclin-dependent kinases. cdc25A and B, but not C, have oncogenic potential in vitro. In this study, we analyzed the possible implication of cdc25 genes in the progression of colorectal tumors. RNA and DNA were extracted from 34 paired tumor and normal colorectal tissues and examined by Northern blot, RT-PCR, and Southern blot, respectively. Protein expression was analyzed by Western blot in a subset of normal and tumor samples. The expression levels were correlated with the clinicopathologic characteristics and survival of the patients. cdc25B mRNA was overexpressed in 19 carcinomas (56%). A significant correlation was observed between high cdc25B mRNA levels and the relapse-free, overall, and cancer-related survival of the patients. The cdc25B2 splicing variant was detected in 27 carcinomas (79%) but only in 9 normal samples (26%) and was associated with the grade of the differentiation of the tumors. cdc25A mRNA was overexpressed in four tumors (12%) and cdc25C1 mRNA was overexpressed in nine tumors (26%). A new cdc25C2 splicing variant lacking exon 4 and 5 was identified in all of the tumors and in 56% of the normal samples. No amplifications or gene rearrangements of these genes were detected. In conclusion, these findings indicate that cdc25 isoforms and splicing variants are differentially regulated in colorectal carcinomas and may participate in the development of these tumors. Additionally, the correlation between cdc25B mRNA levels and the survival of the patients also suggest that the cdc25B isoform may be involved in the progression of the disease.