Expression of MCRS1 and MCRS2 and their correlation with serum carcinoembryonic antigen in colorectal cancer.

Cancer-associated genes serve a crucial role in carcinogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the mRNA expression levels of microspherule protein 1 (MCRS1) and MCRS2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and their association with clinical variables. The mRNA expression levels of MCRS1 and MCRS2 were assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in the tumor and corresponding non-tumor tissues of 54 newly-diagnosed CRC patients, as well as in the normal colonic mucosa tissue of 19 age/gender-matched healthy controls. Immunofluorescence was also employed to identify the expression of MCRS1 in CRC tissues, while the concentration of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was determined by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. The results identified a negative correlation between MCRS1 and MCRS2 expression levels (r=-0.3018, P=0.0266). MCRS1 mRNA expression was significantly increased and MCRS2 mRNA expression was decreased in CRC tissues compared with the levels in the corresponding normal tissues (both P<0.001). An increase in MCRS1 expression and a decrease in MCRS2 expression was detected in advanced stage when compared with early stage CRC patients. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed increased expression of MCRS1 in CRC patients. Furthermore, the expression levels of MCRS1 displayed positive correlation, whilst those of MCRS2 displayed negative correlation, with the serum CEA level in patients with CRC. The results suggest that increased MCRS1 and decreased MCRS2 expression appeared to be involved in the pathogenesis of CRC. The present study provides evidence suggesting that MCRS1 and MCRS2 may identify CRC patients at a risk of disease relapse, and thus, may be potential tools for monitoring disease activity and act as novel diagnostic markers in the treatment of CRC.

Pubmed ID: 27446248