Abstract:

OBJECTIVE:  To analyze the gene expression in colon cancer including non-metastasized and already metastasized using cDNA gene chip. To screen cell adhesion genes in colon cancer metastasis-associated genes. METHODS：The cDNAs reversely transcribed from the mRNA derived respectively from one non-metastasized and already metastasized were labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 prior to hybridization with the gene chip with 16k genes. The acquired was analyzed by software. Genes associated with cell adhesion and their function were analyzed. RESULTS：There were significant differences in gene expression profiles between non-metastasized and metastasized. When the fold change criteria were set to be≥5 or ≤-5 fold，26 genes were differentially expressed，15 genes were significantly up-regulated，including CD44，ICAM1，NCAM，HMGB1，SELL，CHRNA5，CEACAM6，VCAM1，HMGA2， PECAM1，CEACAM1，CD18，ITGAL，TGFB1，ICAM-3；and 11 were down-regulated with CD99， CADM1， CD82， F11R，SELE，CD226，TSLC1，PTB，CAR，JAM-2 and PTEN included.  CONCLUSION： Colon cancer metastasis requires multiple genes to be involved. It is therefore important to use gene chip technology to screen cell adhesion among the genes associated with metastasis in colon cancer.

Key words: colon cancer, gene chip, metastasis, cell adhesion