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| IJCEP Copyright © 2007-All rights reserved. |
| International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology |
Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2(2),154-162;2009
Original Article
Putative Precursor Cancer Cells in the Human Colorectal Cancer Tissue
Teodora E Goranova, Masayuki Ohue and Kikuya Kato
Research Institute and Department of Surgery, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Higashinari-ku, Osaka,
Japan
Received 11 June 2008; Accepted 1 July 2008; Available online 14 July 2008
Abstract: Multistage carcinogenesis is an important concept in cancer biology. Each new stage is triggered by the acquisition of an
additional genetic aberration, leading to clonal expansion of the cancer cell. The resulting tumor mass consists of cancer cells with all
genetic aberrations, but may include precursor cells at some point of carcinogenesis. We analyzed six colorectal cancer tissues with
APC, K-ras, and p53 mutations. From each sample, 40–50 areas (100×100×40μm) consisting only of cancer cells were microdissected,
and genomic DNA was purified. Ratios of mutated and normal alleles were quantitated by the SNaPshot assay, a primer extension
assay. In five tumor tissues, we identified cancer cell subpopulations corresponding to putative precursors, i.e., cells with mutations in
one or two of the three genes. All samples were likely to be of monoclonal origin, and temporal sequences of the mutations could be
deduced from the mutation patterns of putative precursors. The orders of mutation events were variable. However, the two carcinoma
tissues accompanying adenoma regions started with the APC mutation, not contradicting the previous studies. The analysis also
revealed considerable heterogeneity in allele ratios of one or two of the chromosomes. The current findings are promising to uncover the
process of carcinogenesis directly from the tumor tissue of the patient.(IJCEP806007).
Key Words: esophagitis carcinogenesis, somatic mutation, intratumor heterogeneity, chromosome copy number variation, cancer stem
cell
Full text PDF, Supplemental Table S1, Supplemental Table S2, Supplemental Table S3
Address all correspondences to: Kikuya Kato, MD, PhD, Professor and Director, Research Institute, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer
and Cardiovascular Diseases, 1-3-2 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, 537-8511, Japan. Tel:+81-6-6972-1181 (ext. 4105, 4304); Fax:
+81-6-6973-1209; Email: katou-ki@mc.pref.osaka.jp
Original Article
Putative Precursor Cancer Cells in the Human Colorectal Cancer Tissue
Teodora E Goranova, Masayuki Ohue and Kikuya Kato
Research Institute and Department of Surgery, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Higashinari-ku, Osaka,
Japan
Received 11 June 2008; Accepted 1 July 2008; Available online 14 July 2008
Abstract: Multistage carcinogenesis is an important concept in cancer biology. Each new stage is triggered by the acquisition of an
additional genetic aberration, leading to clonal expansion of the cancer cell. The resulting tumor mass consists of cancer cells with all
genetic aberrations, but may include precursor cells at some point of carcinogenesis. We analyzed six colorectal cancer tissues with
APC, K-ras, and p53 mutations. From each sample, 40–50 areas (100×100×40μm) consisting only of cancer cells were microdissected,
and genomic DNA was purified. Ratios of mutated and normal alleles were quantitated by the SNaPshot assay, a primer extension
assay. In five tumor tissues, we identified cancer cell subpopulations corresponding to putative precursors, i.e., cells with mutations in
one or two of the three genes. All samples were likely to be of monoclonal origin, and temporal sequences of the mutations could be
deduced from the mutation patterns of putative precursors. The orders of mutation events were variable. However, the two carcinoma
tissues accompanying adenoma regions started with the APC mutation, not contradicting the previous studies. The analysis also
revealed considerable heterogeneity in allele ratios of one or two of the chromosomes. The current findings are promising to uncover the
process of carcinogenesis directly from the tumor tissue of the patient.(IJCEP806007).
Key Words: esophagitis carcinogenesis, somatic mutation, intratumor heterogeneity, chromosome copy number variation, cancer stem
cell
Full text PDF, Supplemental Table S1, Supplemental Table S2, Supplemental Table S3
Address all correspondences to: Kikuya Kato, MD, PhD, Professor and Director, Research Institute, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer
and Cardiovascular Diseases, 1-3-2 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, 537-8511, Japan. Tel:+81-6-6972-1181 (ext. 4105, 4304); Fax:
+81-6-6973-1209; Email: katou-ki@mc.pref.osaka.jp