Significant overexpression of oligophrenin-1 in colorectal tumors detectedby cDNA microarray analysis

The human oligophrenin-1 gene is ubiquitously expressed at low levels and e xpressed at high levels in the developing neuroepithelium of the neural tub e. Mutations in this gene have been related to the X-linked mental retardat ion. Using cDNA microarrays, we found evidence that oligophrenin-1 is stron gly up-regulated in colorectal tumors. Semiquantitative reverse transcripta se polymerase chain reaction confirmed this finding. Thus, a well-known ner vous system-associated human gene transcript may also be an important color ectal tumor marker and potential therapeutic target. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.