ERCC1 expression in patients with colorectal cancer:a pilot study

Aim:Excision repair cross complementation group 1(ERCC1)has a key role in enhanced DNA damage repair caused by oxaliplatin-based therapy and may lead to resistance of these platinum drugs in colorectal cancer(CRC)patients.Hence,the present preliminary study aimed to explore the role of ERCC1 C/T polymorphism at codon 118 as well as its immunoreactivity in patients with primary CRC.Methods:ERCC1 polymorphism was studied using PCR-RFLP and ERCC1 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in 50 CRC patients.Results:ERCC1 codon 118 C/T polymorphism analysis reported the predominance of C/T(52%)genotype as compared to C/C(38%)and T/T(10%)genotypes.Furthermore,72%of patients showed positive ERCC1 protein expression.Significant correlation was not observed between clinicopathological parameters and ERCC1 polymorphism,while ERCC1 protein expression significantly correlated only with tumor site(colon vs.rectum)(P=0.046).Further,the present study failed to demonstrate the role of ERCC1 C118T polymorphism or protein expression as useful prognostic markers in CRC patients.Conclusion:ERCC1-positive protein expression may be a useful marker for rectal cancer patients.However,further evaluation in a larger set of CRC patients is required to better understand the role of ERCC1.