Differential expression of cdc25 cell-cycle-activating phosphatases in human colorectal carcinoma

cdc25 is a family of cell-cycle phosphatases that activate the cyclin-depen dent kinases. cdc25A and B, but not C, have oncogenic potential in vitro. I n this study, we analyzed the possible implication of cdc25 genes in the pr ogression of colorectal tumors. RNA and DNA were extracted from 34 paired t umor and normal colorectal tissues and examined by Northern blot, RT-PCR, a nd Southern blot. respectively. Protein expression was analyzed by Western blot in a subset of normal and tumor samples. The expression levels were co rrelated with the clinicopathologic characteristics and survival of the pat ients. cdc25B mRNA was overexpressed in 19 carcinomas (56%). A significant correlation was observed between high cdc25B mRNA levels and the relapse-fr ee, overall, and cancer-related survival of the patients. The cdc25B2 splic ing variant was detected in 27 carcinomas (79%) but only in 9 normal sample s (26%) and was associated with the grade of the differentiation of the tum ors. cdc25A mRNA was overexpressed in four tumors (12%) and cdc25C1 mRNA wa s overexpressed in nine tumors (26%). A new cdc25C2 splicing variant lackin g exon 4 and 5 was identified in all of the tumors and in 56% of the normal samples. No amplifications or gene rearrangements of these genes were dete cted. In conclusion, these findings indicate that cdc25 isoforms and splici ng variants are differentially regulated in colorectal carcinomas and may p articipate in the development of these tumors. Additionally, the correlatio n between cdc25B mRNA levels and the survival of the patients also suggest that the cdc25B isoform may be involved in the progression of the disease.