Investigation of MACC1-AS1 gene mutations in colorectal cancer

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the frequent cause of mortality in Western world. Metastasis associated with colon cancer 1 (MACC1) gene acts as a key regulator of HGF/Met pathway and is expressed highly in colorectal cancer. MACC1 serves as a prognostic indicator for invasion and metastasis of several cancers. Potential links between MACC1 AS1 RNA locus that located in the intron 6 of MACC1 gene and high expression of MACC1 are unknown. Herein, the secondary structure of MACC-AS1 noncoding RNA and the complementarities between MACC1 mRNA and MACC1-AS1 were analyzed by RNAFold and IntaRNA programs. Since MACC1-AS1 has a proper secondary structure to hybridize with MACC1 mRNA, a potential role of MACC1-AS1 in regulation of MACC1 expression could be thought. The study included 104 controls and 96 patients. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood samples and analyzed by PCR-SSCP and sequence analysis. Three fragments and six genotypes (1, 2, 3, 1&2, 1&3, 2&3) were observed in the exon 1 of MACC1-AS1. A and GT (rs200028381) insertions in genotype 1, G>A substitution and A insertion in genotype 2 were detected. However, no association was observed between these SNPs and colorectal cancer (P>0.05). This is the first investigation on MACC1-AS1 gene mutation in colorectal cancer using molecular techniques. Novel SNPs in exon 1 were identified. In order to understand the association between colorectal tumors and MACC1-AS1 RNA expression clearly; further analysis, like Western blotting and immunohistochemistry of MACC1 and RNA analysis for MACC1-AS1, are needed.