Open AccessTumor‐specific Activation of Mitogen‐activated Protein Kinase in Human Colorectal and Gastric Carcinoma Tissues
Author(s) -
Kuno Yasushi,
Kondo Ken,
Iwata Hiroyuki,
Senga Takeshi,
Akiyama Seiji,
Ito Katsuki,
Takagi Hiroshi,
Hamaguchi Michinari
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
japanese journal of cancer research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 0910-5050
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1998.tb00647.x
Subject(s) - mapk/erk pathway , cancer research , kinase , protein kinase a , colorectal cancer , carcinogenesis , carcinoma , mitogen activated protein kinase , medicine , biology , pathology , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology
To search for the signaling events in colorectal carcinoma relevant to its tumorigenesis, we investigated the activity of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) in human colorectal carcinoma tissues and paired normal tissues. Of 64 cases examined, approximately 75% (48 cases) showed tumor‐specific activation of MAPK by in situ kinase renaturation assay, as well as in vitro kinase assay with immunoprecipitated MAPK. In addition, tumor‐specific activation of MAPK was associated with the activation of MAPK kinase in the cases we examined. However, no clear correlation of MAPK activation with lymph node involvement, metastatic rate, stage, histological classification, age or sex was observed. These results suggest that the MAPK pathway is involved in colorectal tumor development, but its activation alone is not sufficient for malignant conversion. In contrast to colorectal carcinoma, gastric carcinoma tissues showed a lower rate of MAPK activation, suggesting that the signaling pathway activated in colorectal carcinoma tissues may differ in part from that of gastric carcinoma.