AIM: Tumor endothelial markers (TEMs) are a newly discovered family of endothelial markers associated with tumor specificangiogenesis. This study sought to examine the levels of expression (qualitatively and quantitat...AIM: Tumor endothelial markers (TEMs) are a newly discovered family of endothelial markers associated with tumor specificangiogenesis. This study sought to examine the levels of expression (qualitatively and quantitatively)for TEMs in human colon cancer.METHODS: Human colorectal cancer tissues (n = 48)and normal background tissues (n = 31) were obtained after surgery. RNA was extracted from frozen sections for gene amplification. The expression of TEMs (TEM-1to TEM-8) was assessed using RT-PCR and their transcript levels were determined using real-time-quantitative PCR(Q-RT-PCR).RESULTS: TEM-1 (P = 0.01), TEM-7 (P = 0.04), TEM-7R(P= 0.03), TEM-8 (P = 0.001) significantly raised in colon cancer tissues compared with the levels detected in normal background tissues. The expressions of TEM-2 and TEM-6were found to be not significantly different between tumor tissues and normal tissues (P>0.05). Patients who had cancer penetrating into and through the muscularis propria of the bowel wall and developed nodal involvement(Dukes C) exhibited significantly higher levels of TEM -8compared to patients who were node negative (P<0.05).TEM-7 and TEM-7R showed high level of transcripts in Dukes C, but they were not statistically significant.CONCLUSION: The level of the expression of TEM-1,TEM-7, TEM-7R and TEM-8 (but not TEM-2 and TEM-6)were associated with both nodal involvement and disease progression, and may therefore, have a prognostic value in colorectal cancer.展开更多
文摘AIM: Tumor endothelial markers (TEMs) are a newly discovered family of endothelial markers associated with tumor specificangiogenesis. This study sought to examine the levels of expression (qualitatively and quantitatively)for TEMs in human colon cancer.METHODS: Human colorectal cancer tissues (n = 48)and normal background tissues (n = 31) were obtained after surgery. RNA was extracted from frozen sections for gene amplification. The expression of TEMs (TEM-1to TEM-8) was assessed using RT-PCR and their transcript levels were determined using real-time-quantitative PCR(Q-RT-PCR).RESULTS: TEM-1 (P = 0.01), TEM-7 (P = 0.04), TEM-7R(P= 0.03), TEM-8 (P = 0.001) significantly raised in colon cancer tissues compared with the levels detected in normal background tissues. The expressions of TEM-2 and TEM-6were found to be not significantly different between tumor tissues and normal tissues (P>0.05). Patients who had cancer penetrating into and through the muscularis propria of the bowel wall and developed nodal involvement(Dukes C) exhibited significantly higher levels of TEM -8compared to patients who were node negative (P<0.05).TEM-7 and TEM-7R showed high level of transcripts in Dukes C, but they were not statistically significant.CONCLUSION: The level of the expression of TEM-1,TEM-7, TEM-7R and TEM-8 (but not TEM-2 and TEM-6)were associated with both nodal involvement and disease progression, and may therefore, have a prognostic value in colorectal cancer.