Induction of aberrant crypt foci and flat-type adenocarcinoma in the colons of dogs by N-ethyl-N'-nitro-nitrosoguanidine and their sequential changes

Mutant KRAS in aberrant crypt foci (ACF): initiation of colorectal cancer?

Since aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were first described in 1987, they have been the subjects of hundreds of papers; however, the debate continues about their role in colorectal tumorigenesis. This review focuses on the many phenotypic, genetic and epigenetic alterations in ACF that support the hypothesis that ACF are putative precursors of colorectal cancer in both humans and experimental animals. Human ACF, both with and without dysplasia, are monoclonal and display evidence of chromosomal instability. Both of these characteristics are shared by colorectal cancers. While most ACF do not have APC mutations, a large proportion has KRAS mutations and methylated SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes. This epigenetic inactivation gives rise to constitutive Wnt signaling in these putative precursors of colorectal cancer.

Effects of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine on the human colorectal polyps consecutively maintained in SCID mice

N-Methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) treatments for a long period induced morphological and molecular alterations in the benign human colorectal polyps which were maintained in the severe combined immunodeficient C.B17/N-scid/scid mice. Thirty four xenografts of colorectal polyps from five solitary polyp and three familial polyposis patients were examined for K-ras and p53 mutations. Six K-ras mutations were induced in 16 grafts treated with MNNG more than five times, while no K-ras mutations were detected in 14 untreated grafts (P<0.05). Additional and new K-ras mutations were also induced in two polyps in which K-ras mutation had pre-existed. p53 mutations were not observed in both MNNG-treated and untreated groups. The mutations in K-ras gene were induced at codon 12 (GGT-->GAT) except one at codon 13 (GGC-->GGT). The results indicate that K-ras mutation plays an important role in human colorectal carcinogenesis as is the case in experimental animals.