Z Gastroenterol 2005; 43 - 112
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-869759

The presence of HSPCO34 in colorectal cancer

P Sarlós 1, A Szigeti 2, Sz Bellyei 2, Á Boronkai 2, B Sümegi 2, L Nagy 1, Á Király 1
  • 13rd Dept. of Medicine
  • 2Dept. of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, University of Pécs, Medical Centre, Pécs

Placental proteins are repressed after birth, but could be re- and overexpressed in various tumors. HSPCO34 is a protein abundantly expressed in placenta. The function of this protein is yet unknown and has higher expression also in liver, adrenal gland and some human neurogen tumors.

Aims and methods: The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the presence of HSPCO34 in gastrointestinal tumors developed from neuroectoderma. All of the 10 patients had adenocarcinoma of the colon/sigma/rectum (median age: 68,5±9,5). Biopsy samples were taken from the tumor and the surrounding healthy tissue. After isolation of total proteins from the biopsy specimens SDS-PAGE/Western blot was performed using monospecific anti-HSPCO34 serum.

Results: We found higher HSPCO34 expression in all of the neoplastic tissues compared with matching healthy tissues. HSPCO34 could not be detected in sera. The localization of the protein is being determined in normal and in tumorous immunohistochemical sections.

Conclusions: By these results, HSPCO34 may have oncodevelopmental function in colorectal tumors. Further expressional and functional analyses will result in a better understanding of the cellular pathways involved in colorectal tumorgenesis and hold promise to identify targets such as HSPCO34 for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

This study was supported by the grants of ETT 550/2003.