Background

Recent progress in chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has been remarkable, with many novel drugs including molecular targeted agents having been developed. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody drugs, such as cetuximab and panitumumab, often combined with cytotoxic drugs, are now widely used as front-line chemotherapy for Ras wild-type mCRC, and are demonstrating promising results [1, 2]. Several recently published studies have demonstrated an association between the effect of anti-EGFR antibody and the location of the primary tumor in patients with mCRC. Brule et al. reported that, in the NCIC CO.17 study, patients with left-sided tumors had significantly longer progression-free survival when treated with cetuximab compared with best supportive care, whereas those with right-sided did not [3]. Einem et al. reported that, in the AIO KRK-0104 trial, left-sided tumors were associated with significantly longer overall and progression-free survival than right-sided tumors among patients with KRAS wild-type CRC when treated with cetuximab as first-line treatment [4].

The left and right colon have different embryologic origins, the left colon being from the foregut and the right from the midgut, and different blood supplies. Therefore, as first proposed by Bufills et al. [5], left- and right-sided colon cancers are distinct genetic entities. However, no molecular biomarkers that elucidate the reason(s) for the differences in the effects of these agents according to tumor location have yet been identified.

Liver metastases are the main cause of death in most patients with mCRC. Because controlling liver metastases is considered essential in the treatment of mCRC, it is reasonable to expect that the level of mRNA expression of molecular target genes in liver metastases would be the best predictor of therapy benefit. However, in many—if not most—cases, only biopsies of the patient’s primary tumor are readily available for analysis. Therefore, it is important to investigate the relationship between levels of response determinants in the primary tumor and in the corresponding liver metastases to determine whether analysis of biopsies of the primary tumor is useful for prediction of tumor response.

In this study, we have analyzed the mRNA expression levels of 19 signal transduction genes from both the primary tumors and corresponding liver metastases of 52 patients with CRC and resectable liver metastases. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the relationship between signal transduction gene expressions in primary tumors and corresponding liver metastases, and (2) to determine whether expression levels of these genes differ by location of the primary tumor site in patients with mCRC.

Methods

Patients and samples

Data from 52 cases of primary CRC with liver metastases were analyzed in this retrospective study (35 men and 17 women; median age, 61.5 years (range, 32–91 years). The metastases were synchronous in 33 patients and metachronous in 19. The patients had undergone surgical resection of primary colorectal adenocarcinomas and liver metastases between 1995 and 2007 in the Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. All patients were Japanese and all had given their written informed consent according to the institutional regulations. Relevant characteristics of the 52 patients are shown in Table 1. They were classified as having right-sided CRC if the primary tumor was located in the cecum, ascending colon, hepatic flexure, or transverse colon, and left-sided CRC if the tumor site was within the splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon, or rectum.

Table 1 Patient Characteristics
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This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tokyo Women’s Medical University and performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Microdissection

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens were cut into 10 μm thick serial sections. For pathological diagnosis, one slide was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and evaluated by a pathologist. Manual microdissection using a scalpel was performed if the histology was homogeneous and contained more than 90 % cancer cells. For all other samples, laser-capture microdissection (P.A.L.M. Microlaser Technologies AG, Munich, Germany) was performed to ensure that only tumor cells were dissected.

RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis

Isolation of RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens was performed using an RNeasy FFPE Kit (Qiagen, Tokyo, Japan) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. cDNA was converted from the total RNA yielded, using a High Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription Kit (Applied Biosystems, Tokyo, Japan).

Reverse transcription-PCR

cDNA was pre-amplified using a Taqman PreAmp Master Mix Kit (Applied Biosystems) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. mRNA expression of 19 signal transduction genes and a single internal reference gene (beta-2-macrogloblin) were measured by a fluorescence-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection method (StepOne real-time PCR system, Applied Biosystems). A list of the 19 genes and primers/probes information for the Taqman Gene Expression Assays (Applied Biosystems) is provided in Table 2. The PCR reaction mixture consisted of 10 μL of Taqman Fast Universal PCR Master Mix, No UNG (Applied Biosystems), 5 μL of pre-amplified cDNA sample, 1 μL of Taqman Gene Expression Assays primers and probe (20×), and 3 μL of nuclease-free water. Cycling conditions were 95 °C for 20 s, followed by 40 cycles at 95 °C for 1 s and 60 °C for 20 s. The threshold cycle (CT) value for each gene was determined by SDS software v1.2 (Applied Biosystems). The delta-CT(ΔCT) value, which is the difference between the CT value of the target gene and that of the endogenous control gene, was calculated by the same software. Delta-ΔCT (ΔΔCT), which is the difference in the ΔCT value for each sample and the highest ΔCT value as a calibrator, was also calculated and the 2-ΔΔCT number used for relative mRNA quantification.

Table 2 Target gene characteristics
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Median values were used as the cut-off values to divide strong from weak expression.

Screening for KRAS mutation

DNA was extracted from the FFPE specimens using a Qiamp DNA FFPE tissue Kit (Qiagen, Tokyo, Japan) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. KRAS codon 12,13 mutations were measured by direct-sequencing method, as previously described [6].

Statistical analysis

Median mRNA levels for left- and the right-sided tumors, and PTEN mRNA levels by KRAS status were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The correlation between the mRNA levels of primary tumors and corresponding liver metastases was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation. KRAS mutation frequency was compared between left- and the right-sided tumors using Fisher’s exact test. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to construct survival curves and the log-rank test for statistical analysis. Overall survival was defined as the time from the day of primary tumor resection to death from any cause. Statistical analyses were performed using JMP 10 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Statistical significance was recognized at P-values of less than 0.05. All values are two-sided.

Results

Comparison of mRNA expression in primary tumors and corresponding liver metastases

Correlations between mRNA expression levels of 19 genes in primary tumors and the corresponding liver metastases are shown in Table 3. Significant correlations were identified for AREG (p = 0.023), EREG (p = 0.0022), EGF (p = 0.0057), EGFR (p = 0.0007), ERBB2 (also known as HER2) (p < 0.0001), ERBB3 (p = 0.044), HBEGF (p = 0.014), HGF (p = 0.0023), MET (p = 0.0005), IGF1R (p < 0.0001), IGF2R (p < 0.0001), MST1R (p = 0.0069), PTEN (p = 0.0003), and TGFA (p < 0.0001), whereas no significant correlations were identified for BTC, ERBB4, IGF, IGF2, and MST1.

Table 3 Correlation between mRNA levels in primary tumors and liver
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Comparison of mRNA levels and KRAS status between left- and right-sided CRC

Thirty-five patients were had left-sided and 17 right-sided CRCs. The primary tumor mRNA expression levels of 19 genes were compared between left- and right-sided cancers: only PTEN mRNA expression differed significantly (median; left 1.00 vs. right 1.68; p = 0.017) (Fig. 1). When rectal (n = 15) were separated from left-sided colon CRCs (n = 20), PTEN mRNA levels progressively increased from rectum to right-sided colon (median; rectum 0.84, left colon 1.23, right colon 1.68; p = 0.013) (Fig. 2). PTEN mRNA expression in liver metastases also differed significantly according to primary tumor location (median; left 0.92 vs. right 1.27; p = 0.048) (Fig. 3).

Fig. 1
figure 1

PTEN mRNA expression in primary tumor by tumor location PTEN mRNA levels are significantly higher in right- than in left-sided colorectal cancer (median; left 1.00 vs. right 1.68, p = 0.017)

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Fig. 2
figure 2

PTEN mRNA expression in primary tumor by location in rectum, left-sided colon, and right-sided colon PTEN mRNA levels progressively increase from rectum to right-sided colon (median; rectum 0.84, left colon 1.23, right colon 1.68, p = 0.013)

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Fig. 3
figure 3

PTEN mRNA expression in liver metastases by location of primary tumor PTEN mRNA levels are significantly higher in liver metastases from right-sided colon cancer than in those from left-sided colorectal cancer (median; left 0.92 vs. right 1.27, p = 0.048)

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The correlation of PTEN mRNA expression in primary tumors and corresponding liver metastases is shown in Fig. 4. The Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.48 (p = 0.0003).

Fig. 4
figure 4

Correlation of PTEN mRNA expression between primary tumor and liver metastases. There is a significant correlation between PTEN mRNA expression in primary tumor and liver metastases. Spearman’s correlation coefficient 0.48 (p = 0.0003)

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There was a non-significant tendency toward a higher frequency of KRAS codon 12,13 mutation in right-sided CRC (KRAS mutation %: left 37.5 % vs. right 64.7 %; p = 0.082).

Amounts of PTEN mRNA in the primary tumor did not differ significantly between patients with KRAS wild and mutant genes (PTEN median 1.22 vs. 1.00, p = 0.21).

PTEN expression and overall survival

When the median value of PTEN mRNA levels in the primary tumor was used as a cut-off line, there was no difference in overall survival between patients with high and low levels of PTEN mRNA (p = 0.59).

Discussion

Several recent several studies have reported that the location of CRCs is associated with response to anti-EGFR antibody [3, 4, 7, 8]. All these studies found that left-sided CRCs are associated with more favorable responses and prognosis than are right-sided. However, the mechanism(s) for this phenomenon has not been identified.

In this study, only PTEN mRNA levels differed significantly between left- and right-sided CRCs. PTEN mRNA levels progressively increased from rectum to right-sided colon. PTEN is a downstream inhibitor of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, one of the EGFR pathways, which modulates cell proliferation and survival [9]. Loss of the PTEN tumor suppressor function has been observed in various cancers, such as those of breast, prostate, thyroid, and endometrial origin [10]. Our finding of weaker PTEN expression in left- than right-sided side CRC indicates that the PI3K pathway is more active in left- than right-sided CRC. Johnson et al. reported that, in 154 patients with CRC, expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway components as measured by immunohistochemistry was stronger in left-than right-sided CRCs [11], which supports our data. If the PI3K-mTOR pathway is more active in left-sided lesions, it is unsurprising that blocking the EGFR pathway with anti-EGFR antibody seems to be more effective in left- than right-sided CRCs.

Although PTEN is known to have germline mutation and deletion by allelic loss [12–15], it has been suggested that PTEN may be inactivated by mechanisms other than mutations and/or deletions. Goel et al. reported that hypermethylation of the PTEN promoter correlates significantly with either decreased or complete loss of PTEN protein expression [10]. Several studies have found that PTEN loss and PIK3CA mutation are associated with resistance to anti-EGFR therapy [14, 16, 17]. However, others have reported that PTEN and PIK3CA mutation have no relationship with the outcome of anti-EGFR therapy [18, 19]. The usefulness of PIC3CA and PTEN as biomarkers is still controversial; they appear to be less reliable biomarkers than RAS or BRAF.

Mao et al. pooled data from eight studies and found a concordance rate of 71.7 % for PTEN expression in primary CRCs and their metastases [20]. This concordance rate is relatively small compared with those for KRAS mutation (92 %), BRAF mutation (96.8 %), and PIK3CA mutation (93.9 %). Although immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used in most of the PTEN studies included in this meta-analysis, in our study we used mRNA expression levels as measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. This quantitative method showed a relatively strong correlation between primary CRCs and their liver metastases. Hocking et al. used Taqman copy number variation and IHC to assess loss of PTEN function in 51 patients with CRC and reported a concordance rate of 68 % between Taqman copy number and IHC in assessment of PTEN loss [21]. Reported findings seem to vary between methodologies: standardized assessment of PTEN function is required to clarify the role of PTEN as a biomarker.

We found significant correlations of mRNA expression between primary tumor and liver metastates for 14 genes, but not for the other five. A recent study showed that HER2- (ERBB2) positive CRC has favorable responses to trastuzumab, which is an anti-HER2 antibody [22]. Even when a resected primary tumor is HER2-positive, if HER2 expression differs between the primary and metastatic tumors, different strategies should be considered for treating the metastatic lesions. However, our data indicate a strong correlation (p < 0.0001) between mRNA expression of ERBB2 in primary tumors and liver metastases, which suggests that anti-HER2 drugs can be used to treat metastases when the primary tumor is HER2-positive. MET is a tyrosine kinase receptor in the membrane surface, and HGF is the main ligand of MET. Although rilotumumab (an anti-HGF antibody) and onartuzumab (an anti-MET antibody) have not been found to confer survival benefit in non-small cell lung or gastric cancers [23–25], rilotumumab reportedly showed survival benefit when used with panitumumab in a phase II trial [26]. MET-positive cancer shows better results than MET-negative cancer when treated with MET inhibitor [27]: MET expression is regarded as a useful biomarker of anti-MET treatment. According to our data, MET and HGF gene expression in primary CRCs and their metastases is significantly correlated, which is helpful regarding choice of treatment for liver metastases.

Several published studies have reported that the right-sided colon more frequently has KRAS and BRAF mutations [28–31]. Although we did not analyze BRAF mutational status, our data showed a tendency to higher frequency of KRAS exon 2 mutation; however, this was not statistically significant because of the small sample size. Maus et al. reported that BRAF mutations are more common in right-sided colon, suggested that the predilection of BRAF mutation for the right-sided colon partly reflects the high microsatellite instability in this region because such tumors more frequently have BRAF mutations [28]. Recently, Guinney et al. reported four consensus molecular subtypes in colorectal cancer, one of which was characterized by hypermutation, microsatellite instability and strong immune activation and comprised 14 % of colorectal cancers [32]. Pembrolizumab, an anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor, was recently reported to induce remarkable responses in microsatellite unstable colorectal cancers [33]. These data indicate that right-sided colon cancer has more potential to respond to PD-1 inhibitors, in contrast with data indicating that left-sided colon cancer may be more likely to respond to anti-EGFR agents. Tumor location may soon become an important factor when deciding treatment strategy.

Conclusions

In summary, our data show that PTEN mRNA expression differs between left- and right-sided CRCs. We also demonstrated significant correlations between expression of 14 of 19 signal transduction genes in primary tumors and their liver metastases. These data will help in determining why the effects of anti-EGFR antibody differ according to tumor location.

Abbreviations

CRC, colorectal cancer; CT, threshold cycle; FFPE, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded; IHC, immunohistochemistry; mCRC, metastatic colorectal cancer; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PD-1, programmed death 1