Backgrounds: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in economically developed countries. Molecular studies and, in particular, gene expression have contributed to advances in the diagnosis and treatment of many cancers. Genes can be molecular and therapeutic markers, but because of the large molecular diversity in colorectal cancer the knowledge is not yet fully established. Probably one of the most crucial processes during early cancer development is inflammation. The inflammatory response in the tumor is an important indicator of molecular etiology and later of cancer progression.
Objective: The aim of this work is to identify potential biomarkers for early stage of colorectal adenocarcinoma in patients' bowel tissues using transcriptomic analysis.
Methods: Expression of the inflammatory response genes of colorectal cancer at all clinical stages (I-IV) and control of the bowel were evaluated by oligonucleotide microarrays.
Results: Based on statistical analysis many differentially expressed genes were selected. LCK (LCK Proto-Oncogene, Src Family Tyrosine Kinase), GNLY (granulysin), SLC6A6 (Solute-Carrier Family 6 Member 6) and LAMP2 (Lysosomal Associated Membrane Protein 2) were specific for the early stage of the disease. These genes had the properties of the good biomarkers.
Conclusions: The expression of LCK, GNLY, SLC6A6 and LAMP2 genes could be valuable potential diagnostic biomarkers of the early stage of colorectal adenocarcinoma.
Keywords: Colorectal adenocarcinoma; GNLY; LAMP2; LCK; SLC6A6; biomarkers; clinical stage; microarray.