Overexpression of manganese superoxide dismutase mRNA may correlate with aggressiveness in gastric and colorectal adenocarcinomas

The expression or activity of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) is re duced in a variety of malignant tumors and Mn-SOD may act as a new type of tumor suppressor gene. On the other hand, increased expression of Mn-SOD ca n diminish the cytotoxic effects of several anticancer modalities, includin g tumor necrosis factor alpha, ionizing radiation, certain chemotherapeutic agents and hyperthermia. Although Mn-SOD expression and its role in variou s cancers are intensely studied, little is known about its function in gast rointestinal carcinomas. To examine the expression level and significance o f Mn-SOD in gastrointestinal carcinomas, Mn-SOD mRNA expression was examine d in 53 gastric carcinoma and 38 colorectal carcinoma by reverse transcript ion-polymerase chain reaction and was compared with those in the correspond ing normal mucosal tissues. The tumor/normal (T/N) ratio was calculated and the data were clinicopathologically analyzed. The average T/N ratios of Mn -SOD mRNA expression in gastric and colorectal carcinomas were 2.19 acid 3. 72, respectively. Clinicopathologic analyses revealed positive correlation between the Mn-SOD expression level and venous invasion in both gastric and colorectal carcinomas (p<0.05 and p<0.05, respectively). Furthermore, the colorectal carcinoma with lymph node metastasis showed significantly higher Mn-SOD expression than those without it (p<0.05). Our results suggest that Mn-SOD mRNA overexpression can occur in gastric and colorectal carcinomas and may be related to increased aggressiveness.