Do Bile Acid Receptors Exist in Human Colorectal Cancer?

Abstract

Bile acids are thought to play a role in the aetiology and development of colorectal cancer. In this study the existance of specific bile acid receptors in colorectal cancer was postulated, and this was investigated using a receptor assay in which cytosols were labelled with 14 C-deoxycholic acid. Autoradiography using 3 H-deoxycholic acid was also performed. Specific receptors to deoxycholic acid were detected in 12 (30%) of the 39 colorectal cancers studied, but in only 1 (2.6%) of the 39 samples of normal colorectal mucosa from the same patients (✗ 2 =11.16, p<0.005). Gastric cancers, normal gastric mucosa, and benign colorectal tumours were also assayed, but none were found to contain specific deoxycholic acid receptors. Autoradiography was performed on 12 colorectal cancers, and labelling was detected in 2 receptor positive tumours, but not in the other 10 receptor negative tumours. These results suggest that deoxycholic acid receptors may be present in, and involved in the development and growth of colorectal cancers.