Abstract 4496: UBCH10 overexpression in human colorectal cancers

Abstract

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer is the result of the accumulation of different genetic modifications including critical genes involved in the control of cell proliferation. In a large number of carcinomas with worst prognosis, lesions are not diagnosed until the disease is at an advanced stage. To diagnose cancer at an early stage and to establish more effective therapies featuring of key molecules in carcinogenesis is a critical steps. UBCH10 (also known as E2C or UBE2C) is a cell cycle-related protein involved in mitosis completion. UbcH10 participates in proper metaphase to anaphase transition, and abrogation of UbcH10 results in the premature separation of sister chromatids. Thus, UbcH10 is essential for cell cycle progression, and his expression is cell-cycle dependent and related to proliferation Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the association of UbcH10 gene expression with clinicopathological features and tumor progression of colorectal cancer. Materials and methods: We investigated the expression of the UBCH10 genes in a tissue microarray platform consisting of normal and neoplastic colorectal cancers (CRC) tissues by immunohistochemistry. UBCH10 was detectable in 889 patients. Immunoreactivity was scored semi-quantitatively by evaluating the number of positive tumor cells over the total number of tumor cells. Scores were assigned using 5% intervals and ranged from 0% to 100%. Median protein expression levels were used as cut-off scores to define protein marker positivity and the findings were associated with clinical-pathological parameters. Results: Our results demonstrated that UBCH10 is over-expressed in CRCs tissues compared to normal colon (p<0,001), and more specifically the UBCH10 expression is significant higher in tumor location: left VS. right sided (p=0,005). Moreover we found a significant relationship between overexpression of UBCH10 with T stage (p<0,001), N stage (p=0.022), tumor border configuration: pushing VS. infiltrating (p=0.035) and also UBCH10 over-expression was significantly correlated with shorter patient survival. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the overexpression of UbcH10 gene plays a critical role in the carcinogenesis and tumor progression of colorectal cancer. Also our findings indicate, that in colorectal carcinomas, low expression of UBCH10 may be linked to a more aggressive tumor phenotype. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4496. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4496