Identification of Genomic Alterations of Perineural Invasion in Patients with Stage II Colorectal Cancer

Purpose: The molecular mechanism of perineural invasion (PNI) in stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) remains not to be defined clearly. This study aims to identify the genomic aberrations related to PNI in stage II CRC. Patients and Methods: Using array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH), primary tumor tissues and paracancerous normal tissues of stage II CRC with PNI and without PNI were analyzed. We identified genomic aberrations by using Genomic Workbench and MD-SeeGH and validated the aberrations of selected genes by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis were performed to determine the most likely biological effects of these genes. Results: The most frequent gains in stage II CRC were at 7q11.21-q11.22, 8p11.21, 8p12-p11.23, 8q11.1-q11.22, 13q12.13-q12.2, and 20q11.21-q11.23 and the most frequent losses were at 17p13.1-p12, 8p23.2, and 118q11.2-q23. Four high-level amplifications at 8p11.23-p11.22, 18q21.1, 19q11-q12, and 20q11.21-q13.32 and homozygous deletions at 20p12.1 were discovered in Stage II CRC. Gains at 7q11.21-q22.1, 16p11.2, 17q23.3-q25.3, 19p13.3-p12, and 20p13-p11.1, and losses at 11q11-q12.1, 11p15.5-p15.1, 18p11.21, and 18q21.1-q23 were more commonly found in patients with PNI by frequency plot comparison together with detailed genomic analysis. It is also observed that gains at 8q11.1-q24.3, 9q13-q34.3, and 13q12.3-q13.1, and losses at 8p23.3-p12, 17p13.3-p11.2, and 21q22.12 occurred more frequently in patients without PNI. Further validation showed that the expression of FLT1, FBXW7, FGFR1, SLC20A2 and SERPINI1 was significantly up-regulated in the NPNI group compared to the PNI group. GO and pathway analysis revealed some genes enriched in specific pathways. Conclusion: These involved genomic changes in the PNI of stage II CRC may be useful to reveal the mechanisms underlying PNI and provide candidate biomarkers.