Exploring the chemopreventive effect of medication on gene expression linked to colorectal cancer: an observational and mendelian randomization analysis in healthy colon mucosa

Gene expression appears altered in apparently normal tissue surrounding tumor tissue. The observed biological alterations in the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in cancer development and are named the cancer field effect (FE). A robust set of overexpressed FE genes in tissue surrounding c...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Moratalla Navarro, Ferran; Carreras Torres, Robert; Diez Obrero, Virginia; Devall, Matthew; Obón Santacana, Mireia; Díez Villanueva, Anna; Guinó, Elisabet; Casey, Graham; Li, Li; Moreno Aguado, Víctor
Tipo de documento: Artículo
Estado:Published version
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/217411
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/217411
Nivel de acceso:Acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Administració de medicaments
Còlon
Càncer colorectal
Regulació genètica
Administration of drugs
Colon
Colorectal cancer
Genetic regulation
Descripción
Sumario:Gene expression appears altered in apparently normal tissue surrounding tumor tissue. The observed biological alterations in the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in cancer development and are named the cancer field effect (FE). A robust set of overexpressed FE genes in tissue surrounding colorectal cancer (CRC) tumor were identified in previous studies. Our study aimed to investigate the influence of common medication intake and modifiable risk factors on FE gene expression using a colonic mucosa sample dataset of healthy individuals (BarcUVa-Seq). We applied expression enrichment analysis of the FE genes for each studied medication and factor. Both observational and instrumental (Mendelian randomization) analysis were conducted, and the results were validated using independent datasets. The findings from the observational and instrumental analyses consistently showed that medication intake, especially metformin, considerably downregulated the FE genes. Chemopreventive effects were also noted for antihypertensive drugs targeting the renin-angiotensin system. Conversely, benzodiazepines usage might upregulate FE genes, thus fostering a tumor-promoting microenvironment. In contrast, the findings from the observational and instrumental analyses on modifiable risk factors showed some discrepancies. The instrumental results indicated that obesity and smoking might promote a tumor-favorable microenvironment. These findings offer insights into the biological mechanisms through which risk factors might influence CRC development and highlight the potential chemopreventive roles of metformin and antihypertensive drugs in CRC risk.