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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2007; 13(28): 3878-3882
Published online Jul 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i28.3878
Overexpression of connective tissue growth factor WISP-1 in Chinese primary rectal cancer patients
Chao Tian, Zong-Guang Zhou, Wen-Jian Meng, Xiao-Feng Sun, Yong-Yang Yu, Li Li, Hong-Zhi Luo, Lie Yang, Bin Zhou, Jun Gu
Chao Tian, Zong-Guang Zhou, Wen-Jian Meng, Hong-Zhi Luo, Lie Yang, Bin Zhou, Jun Gu, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Division of Digestive Surgery and Organ-Microcirculation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Xiao-Feng Sun, Department of Oncology, Institute of Biomedicine and Surgery, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden
Yong-Yang Yu, Li Li, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by The Key Project of National Outstanding Youth Fund of China, No.39925032
Correspondence to: Zong-Guang Zhou, MD, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. zhou767@21cn.com
Telephone: +86-28-81812007 Fax: +86-28-85164035
Received: March 8, 2007
Revised: April 1, 2007
Accepted: April 4, 2007
Published online: July 28, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To clarify the expression change of Wnt-induced secreted protein-1 (WISP-1) in human rectal cancer and to determine whether it is correlated with invasion and metastasis of human rectal cancer.

METHODS: Eighty-six paired samples of rectal cancer and surgically resected distant normal rectal tissue were collected and allocated into cancer group and control group respectively. WISP-1 mRNA was detected by relative quantitative real-time RT-PCR and WISP-1 protein was examined by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS: WISP-1 gene overexpression was found in 65% (56/86) primary rectal cancers, 2-30 times that of the level in normal matched rectal tissues (P = 0.001). The mRNA expression level was correlated with Duke’s staging, histological differentiation grade and lymph node status. The WISP-1 protein expression was in accordance with mRNA expression level. The positive degree of immunohistochemical staining in the cancer group (1.40 ± 0.35) was different from that in control group (1.04 ± 0.08, P < 0.001). Moreover, in cancer group the positive staining degree in high-level mRNA cancers (1.46 ± 0.37, n = 56) was higher than that in low-level mRNA (1.28 ± 0.28, n = 30, P = 0.018).

CONCLUSION: Aberrant levels of WISP-1 expression may play a role in rectal tumorigenesis. WISP-1 may be used as a specific clinical diagnosis and prognosis marker in rectal cancer.

Keywords: Wnt-induced secreted protein-1; Rectal cancer; Real time RT-PCR; Immunohistochemicy