Screening for Epigenetically Masked Genes in Colorectal Cancer using 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine treatment, Microarray and Gene Expression Profile

Unearthing of silenced genes in colorectal cancer (CRC) is of great importance. We employed oligonucleotide microarray to find changes in global gene expression of five CRC cell lines. These were analyzed before and after treatment with the 5-aza-2'-Deoxycitidine. Expression of the responding genes was integrated with gene expression profiling generated by microarray analysis of matched colorectal tissue samples. Selected candidates were subjected to methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR using CRC cell lines and paired tumor and normal samples from CRC patients. Sixty eight genes were re-expressed after 5-aza-2'-Deoxycitidine treatment and over-expressed in normal colorectal mucosa, including genes that were known to be methylated in CRC. After applying study selection criteria, we identified 16 potential genes. Two candidates were selected (ASPP1 and SCARA5). Among 15 CRC cell lines, methylation was identified in SCARA5 (20%). The methylation status of SCARA5 was subsequently investigated in 23 paired colorectal tissue samples; methylation was detected in 17%, respectively. Observed promoter methylation showed a tendency towards methylation in tumor-derived samples, in SCARA5 gene. Significant down expression of SCARA5 mRNA was observed in CRC cell lines and tumor tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). The use of genome-wide screening led to the identification of a group of candidate genes. Among them, SCARA5 was methylated and markedly down-regulated in CRC. SCARA5 gene may have a role in CRC tumorigenesis.

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Khamas A, Ishikawa T, Shimokawa K, Mogushi K, Iida S, Ishiguro M, Mizushima H, Tanaka H, Uetake H, Sugihara K