The 9p21 locus as a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker in colorectal cancer. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bahrami, Afsane; Hassanian, Seyed Mahdi; Khazaei, Majid; Gharib, Masoumeh; Rahmani, Mahsa; Fiuji, Hamid; Jazayeri, Mir Hadi; Moetamani-Ahmadi, Mehrdad; Ferns, Gordon A; Avan, Amir
• Is Part Of: Pharmacogenomics. Volume 19:Number 5(2018)
• Page Start: 463
• Page End: 474
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: 9p21 locus -- ANRIL -- CDKN2A/B -- colorectal cancer; Pharmacogenomics -- Periodicals; 615.1
• DOI: 10.2217/pgs-2017-0096
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-2416

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related-death worldwide. Despite extensive efforts to identify valid biomarkers for the risk stratification of CRC patients, there are few of proven clinical utility. It is recognized that genetic factors play a major role in determining susceptibility to CRC. Recent genome-wide association studies have demonstrated common genetic variants in a region on chromosome 9p21 associated with an increased risk of CRC. Several genetic polymorphisms have been identified in this region that are associated with CRC. Three genes are located at this locus; CDKN2B (encoding-p15 ink4b ), CDKN2A (encoding-p16 ink4a /p14 ARF ) and 3′ end of CDKN2BAS (termed-antisense-noncoding-RNA in the INK4-locus [ANRIL]). ANRIL has a post-transcriptional modulatory activity, which has been shown to perturb the expression of nearby genes. It also plays an important role in coordinating tissue remodeling through regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, aging, extra-cellular matrix remodeling and inflammatory response. However, the role of ANRIL is not well understood in CRC. Hypermethylation of the p14 ARF and p16 INK4a genes is often found in some tumors, including CRC. However, further studies are necessary to explore the clinical utility of these putative markers in risk stratification, and in the assessment of prognosis. In this review, we have summarized the prognostic and therapeutic potential of the p14 ARF and p16 INK4a genes in patients with colorectal cancer.