BRCA1 and ERCC1mRNA levels are associated with lymph node metastasis in Chinese patients with colorectal cancer

Lu Yuanming,Peng Junjie,Song Baorong,Cai Sanjun,Zhang Lineng

doi:10.1186/1471-2407-13-103

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough both excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1) and breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) can be effective biomarkers for chemosensitivity in primary malignant tumors, their applicability to metastases is poorly understood. Here, ERCC1 and BRCA1, which are linked to lymph node metastasis (LNM) in colorectal cancer (CRC), were evaluated in primary CRC samples from Chinese patients with LNM (LNM CRC) or without LNM (non-LNM CRC). mRNA levels of ERCC1 and BRCA1 in CRC samples, and their relationships to primary CRC and LNM, were also examined.MethodsDifferences in BRCA1 and ERCC1 gene expression between primary CRC with or without LNM were assessed in CRC samples from 120 Chinese patients, using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Relationships between ERCC1 and BRCA1 expression and clinicopathological parameters and prognoses were also examined.ResultsERCC1 and BRCA1 were significantly down-regulated in LNM CRC compared with non-LNM CRC. Down-expression of ERCC1 and BRCA1 was significantly associated with LNM (P < 0.001), advanced TNM stage (P < 0.001), and decreased 5-year overall survival rate (P < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed ERCC1 and BRCA1 expression as independent predictors of recurrence and survival in CRC patients (P < 0.05).ConclusionsERCC1 and BRCA1 mRNA expression levels correlate inversely to CRC metastasis. ERCC1 and BRCA1 might serve as biomarkers for LNM and as prognostic indicators for CRC; their down-expressions are predictors of poor outcome in CRC patients.

Highlights

Both excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1) and breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) can be effective biomarkers for chemosensitivity in primary malignant tumors, their applicability to metastases is poorly understood
We investigated whether ERCC1 and BRCA1 could be such biomarkers and found that their down-expression is associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC)
We found negative expression of ERCC1 to correlate with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and advanced TNM stage, implying that ERCC1 decreases CRC metastasis, and by extension, that its reduced expression might be an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis

Summary

Introduction

Both excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1) and breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) can be effective biomarkers for chemosensitivity in primary malignant tumors, their applicability to metastases is poorly understood. ERCC1 and BRCA1, which are linked to lymph node metastasis (LNM) in colorectal cancer (CRC), were evaluated in primary CRC samples from Chinese patients with LNM (LNM CRC) or without LNM (non-LNM CRC). MRNA levels of ERCC1 and BRCA1 in CRC samples, and their relationships to primary CRC and LNM, were examined. Recent advances in chemotherapy have prolonged survival of patients with advanced disease, these treatments are. Studies have shown that higher ERCC1 mRNA levels are associated with more active DNA repair processes in various tissues [2]. ERCC1 expression is associated with cellular and clinical resistance to platinum compounds and to platinum-based chemotherapy, including those for lung and gastric malignancies [3,4]

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Conclusion