Correlations of MC4R and MSH2 expression with obesity in colon cancer patients

Y.-Z. Liu, K.-Q. Wang, D.-H. Ji, L.-C. Zhang, M. Bi, B.-Y. Shi

Department of Metabolic Diseases and Nutritional Disorders, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, China. shi_by1@163.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlations of MC4R and MSH2 with adult obesity, a total of 46 patients with early-stage colon cancer were treated in our hospital between February 2008 and February 2009 and were enrolled.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Venous blood was regularly drawn from subjects of the observation group and 48 healthy subjects for 6 years. Expression levels of MC4R and MSH2 genes were tested using quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses, and the ensuing proteins were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses. Finally, correlations with body mass index (BMI) and the presence of colon cancer were identified using multivariate analyses.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, MSH2 mRNA and protein expression increased significantly over time (p < 0.05) in patients with colon cancer. Moreover, MSH2 expression was correlated with colon cancer progression, and MC4R mRNA and protein expression increase concurrently in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). Also, the mean BMI among patients with colon cancer was 30.8, whereas that among control subjects was only 21.4. These data indicate a relationship between BMI and colon cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: Expression of MSH2 in patients with colon cancer may promote the expression of the obesity gene MC4R, potentially contributing to body weight gains.

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