Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the adult intestinal stem cell marker Lgr5 in primary and metastatic colorectal cancer.

ABSTRACT: Morphological and clinical heterogeneity of advanced colorectal cancer is probably caused by genetic variability in putative cancer stem cell genes, including Lgr5. Here, we investigated 23 variants of the Lgr5 gene in normal tissue, primary tumors, lymph node metastases and distant metastases of stage III and stage IV colorectal cancer patients. These data were compared to results of immunohistochemical Lgr5 expression analysis and to prognostic clinical parameters. No differences were found comparing germline and somatic Lgr5 genotype in primary tumors, but additional Lgr5 gene alterations could be demonstrated in lymph node and distant metastases. Significant negative correlation was seen between Lgr5 allelic variation and Lgr5 protein expression (p=0.0394), which mainly can be attribut

SUBMITTER: Kleist B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3426388 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature