BACKGROUND: In colorectal cancer, tumor budding is highlighted as both a prognostic indicator and a predictor of chemosensitivity. However, tumor budding has a serious drawback because of unattainable preoperative assessment, thereby, making it not applicable to decision-making on treatment strategies. Recently, high expressions of seven genes (i.e., MSLN, SLC4A11, WNT11, SCEL, RUNX2, MGAT3, and FOXC1) were shown to be associated with high-budding colorectal cancers. This study aimed to propose a budding prediction system using selected RNAs extracted from biopsy specimens. METHODS: The RNA expression levels in 86 surgically resected samples and in 104 samples obtained by colonoscopy before surgery were investigated. RESULTS: The tumor surface expressions of four exclusive genes (i.e., MSLN, SLC4A11, SCEL, and MGAT3) were correlated with the tumor budding grade. Subsequently, the logit P value calculated by multiple logistic regression analysis using the four surface gene expressions was set as the following budding predictive score: Logit (P) = - 0.55 + 0.27*MSLN + 0.16*SLC4A11 + 0.06*MGAT3 + 0.21*SCEL. The effectiveness of the model using colorectal cancer biopsy samples was well corroborated prospectively. CONCLUSION: The budding predictive score that we developed using endoscopic biopsy specimens was clarified to have a high potential for preoperative use.
BACKGROUND: In colorectal cancer, tumor budding is highlighted as both a prognostic indicator and a predictor of chemosensitivity. However, tumor budding has a serious drawback because of unattainable preoperative assessment, thereby, making it not applicable to decision-making on treatment strategies. Recently, high expressions of seven genes (i.e., MSLN, SLC4A11, WNT11, SCEL, RUNX2, MGAT3, and FOXC1) were shown to be associated with high-budding colorectal cancers. This study aimed to propose a budding prediction system using selected RNAs extracted from biopsy specimens. METHODS: The RNA expression levels in 86 surgically resected samples and in 104 samples obtained by colonoscopy before surgery were investigated. RESULTS: The tumor surface expressions of four exclusive genes (i.e., MSLN, SLC4A11, SCEL, and MGAT3) were correlated with the tumor budding grade. Subsequently, the logit P value calculated by multiple logistic regression analysis using the four surface gene expressions was set as the following budding predictive score: Logit (P) = - 0.55 + 0.27*MSLN + 0.16*SLC4A11 + 0.06*MGAT3 + 0.21*SCEL. The effectiveness of the model using colorectal cancer biopsy samples was well corroborated prospectively. CONCLUSION: The budding predictive score that we developed using endoscopic biopsy specimens was clarified to have a high potential for preoperative use.