Global Gene Expression Analysis of Colon Cancers Induced in Rats by PhIP

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A comprehensive microarray analysis of mRNA was conducted using a rat colon cancer model with the food-borne carcinogen, PhIP [Expression data set in excel files (6,612KB)]. Of 8,749 genes or ESTs on a high density oligonucleotide microarray, 27 and 46 genes were over- and under-expressed, respectively, by 3-fold or greater in colon cancers in common in two rat strains with distinct susceptibility to PhIP carcinogenesis [Fujiwara et al.]. A subset of genes whose expression is characteristic of Paneth cells, i.e. the matrilysin and defensin family genes, were highly overexpressed in colon cancers. Paneth cells were also observed in high-grade dysplastic ACF. Our data suggests that Paneth cell differentiation in colon epithelial cells could be an early morphological change in cryptic cells during colon carcinogenesis [Ochiai et al.].