Hydrophobic Proteins May Become Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer

New findings using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) technology may be used to design drug targeted therapy for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

In the study, hydrophobic proteins extracted from colorectal cancer tissues were separated using 2D-PAGE according to their isoelectric point and molecular weight, subsequently, the protein profiles between cancerous and normal tissues were compared. Using this approach, researchers identified a few differentially expressed proteins that were upregulated in cancerous tissues. The expression of such proteins was shown to be significantly related to stage and grade of the cancer and also to gender of the patients.

Colorectal cancer, cancer of the colon and rectum, is a common cause of mortality worldwide. Statistical data demonstrated that the number of deaths caused by colorectal cancer is increasing in both men and women. Understanding the differential expression of proteins in colorectal cancer and normal tissues will lead to a better determination of the development of the disease. Furthermore, these proteins may serve as biomarkers for treatment or detection of the disease. Hydrophobic proteins play a key role in various cellular processes, by virtue of their cellular location, and may serve as a target for drug-targeted therapy.

The study was led by associate professor Dr. Gam Lay Harn from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (Pulau Pinang, Malaysia) and was published on June 14, 2010, in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. Although the extraction of hydrophobic proteins from tissues poses certain challenges, a combination of protein reagents can be used successfully to extract this group of proteins. Followed by 2D-gel electrophoresis separation and mass spectrometry analysis, the identity of these proteins can be validated.

The results obtained in this study revealed the differentially expressed proteins between colorectal cancerous and normal tissues. These proteins may indicate the progression of colorectal carcinogenesis. Furthermore, they can potentially be used to design drug-targeted therapy for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

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