Use of guanylyl cyclase C for detecting micrometastases in lymph nodes of patients with colon cancer

• Published in: Diseases of the colon & rectum Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 310 - 315
• Main Authors: WALDMAN, S. A, CAGIR, B, PARK, P. K, WEINBERG, D, RAKINIC, J, FRY, R. D, GOLDSTEIN, S. D, ISENBERG, G, BARBER, M, BISWAS, S, MINIMO, C, PALAZZO, J
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Secaucus, NJ Springer 01.03.1998
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - diagnosis; Adenocarcinoma - secondary; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Colonic Neoplasms - pathology; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Guanylate Cyclase - analysis; Humans; Lymph Nodes - enzymology; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic Metastasis - diagnosis; Lymphatic Metastasis - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Receptors, Enterotoxin; Receptors, Guanylate Cyclase-Coupled; Receptors, Peptide - analysis; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tumors; Performance evaluation; Human; Carcinoma; Small dimension; Enzyme; Phosphorus-oxygen lyases; Lyases; Malignant tumor; Metastasis; Guanylate cyclase; Colonic disease; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Complication; Colon; Diagnosis; Detection
• ISSN: 0012-3706; 1530-0358
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02237484

Guanylyl cyclase C appears to be expressed only in colorectal cancer cells in extraintestinal tissues. Thus, guanylyl cyclase C may be useful as a marker to detect colorectal cancer micrometastases not detectable by histopathology in lymph nodes of patients. Twelve patients with colon adenocarcinoma, Dukes Stages A through C2, and one patient with a tubulovillous adenoma were included in this study. Forty-two lymph nodes were collected from fresh surgical specimens, and each was examined by histopathology and reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction using guanylyl cyclase C-specific primers. Histopathology identified colon cancer cells in 6 of 16 lymph nodes from five Dukes Stage C patients but not in lymph nodes from the patient with a tubulovillous adenoma, the Dukes Stage A patient, or six Dukes Stage B patients. Reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction using guanylyl cyclase C-specific primers was performed on all 42 lymph nodes. Guanylyl cyclase C messenger RNA was not detected by reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction in lymph nodes from the patient with the tubulovillous adenoma or the patient with Dukes Stage A colon carcinoma. Seven lymph nodes from Dukes Stage C patients revealed guanylyl cyclase C messenger RNA including six lymph nodes containing histopathologically confirmed metastases. Of significance, guanylyl cyclase C messenger RNA was detected in 6 of 21 lymph nodes from Dukes Stage B patients. Indeed, clinical staging of two patients could be upgraded from B to C using reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction and guanylyl cyclase C-specific primers. Reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction using guanylyl cyclase C-specific primers might be useful to more accurately assess micrometastases in lymph nodes of colorectal cancer patients undergoing disease staging.