Expression of JK1 Gene in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Enter Title - do not adjust colour or justification

Kasem K.Y., Gopalan, V., Salajegheh A.,Smith R.A., Lam A.K.Y.

Enter authors do not adjust colour or justification School of Medicine, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies affecting individuals living in industrialized nations. In Australia, it affects one in 18 men and one in 26 women. The genetics of colon cancer are complex, but knowledge continues to evolve and a systematic understanding of the pattern of inheritance of colon cancer can help in the diagnosis and allow targeting of high-risk individuals. Complex interactions between inherited and acquired genomic and other biologic changes associate with both benign and malignant large bowel neoplasm. A previous study on JK1, a newly discovered gene located in chromosome 5 p15.2, confirmed that it plays an important role in molecular pathogenesis of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine the difference in mRNA expression of this novel gene in non-neoplastic and cancer samples of colorectal tissue.

The histopathological features of all samples were reviewed and the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was confirmed. The mRNA was extracted from the tissues and converted into cDNA. Primers were designed for the JK-1 gene to be used in PCR study and gel electrophoresis to confirm the presence of the gene, as well as in a quantitative real-time PCR analysis of gene expression.

Only 7% (3 of 40) of the cancer samples showed an increase of more than 2 fold when compared with non-neoplastic tissues. Other than these, 28% (11 of 40) of cancer tissues showed the JK1 expression in the normal range.

Figure 5: A diagram showing JK-1 gene PCR melting curve

Conclusions: JK1 expression is involved in the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer. The under-expression of JK1 in a high percentage of cancer suggests that it may act as a tumor suppressor gene or that it relates to certain genetic events in tumor pathogenesis.
Figure 3: A diagram showing different stages of colon adenocarcinoma

Future Directions:

Results: The JK1 mRNA was detected in all colorectal tissues using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis.
Figure 1: The chromosomal position of JK-1

More detailed study will be performed to analyze the correlation of JK1 expression levels with the clinical and pathological features of colorectal cancer and other cancers.

Methods: The study was performed on 40 colorectal adenocarcinoma and 20 non-neoplastic colorectal formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.

Figure 4: A picture of gel electrophoresis showing the PCR results of JK-1 gene expression in colon tissues.

The real-time PCR showed expression level in colorectal adenocarcinoma samples decreased more than 2 fold in 65% (26 of 40) of cases.

Opportunities for collaboration in health: Future research into the properties of this novel gene opens a number of avenues for potential collaboration. These include experiments with cell culture and protein specialists to determine the range of functions of JK1 in different cells and tissues, as well as collaboration with clinicians to determine the potential role of the gene in patient survival and cancer management. Should JK1 prove to be a tumor suppressor or have growth modulator functions, it is also possible that future treatments could be developed targeting this gene.

Figure 2: Gross specimen showing adenocarcinoma of colon

Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research