Method for examining colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for examining colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma, which enables to detect colorectal cancer patients and patients at high risk of colorectal cancer at a high probability and is useful for diagnosis of colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma, and provides the examination reagents thereof. There are significant differences in the distribution of GlcNAc-6-sulfotransferase isozymes, sulfation enzymes of sugar residues, among non-cancer colorectal tissues, colorectal cancer tissues and colorectal adenoma tissues. Furthermore, colorectal cancers and adenomas are detected specifically by assaying a definite range of GlcNAc-6-sulfated sugar residues in tissues from patients or feces samples. MECA-79 antibody (Pharmingen, catalog No. 09961D, Distributor: Becton Dickinson), reacting with GlcNAc-6-sulfated sugar residues, which are produced specifically by the enzyme present in colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma tissues could be used for the examination of colorectal cancers and colorectal adenomas.

1 . An examination reagent for colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma comprising, as a major component, an antibody (including MECA-79 antibody) reacting specifically with an antigen carrying sugar residues, which is present in cells expressing HEC-GlcNAc6ST gene and is absent or almost absent in cells expressing GlcNAc6ST-1 or GlcNAc6ST gene. 
   
   
       2 . An examination reagent for colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma comprising, as a major component, an antibody (including MECA-79 antibody) reacting specifically with an antigen carrying sugar residues, which is present in cells transduced with HEC-GlcNAc6ST gene and is absent or almost absent in cells transduced with GlcNAc6ST-1 or GlcNAc6ST gene. 
   
   
       3 . An examination reagent for colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma comprising, as a major component, an antibody (including MECA-79 antibody) reacting specifically with an antigen carrying sugar residues, which are present in tissues, body fluid or feces of patients with colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma and expressed by the following general formula:
   R1-Gal β1-3/4 (SO 3 -6) GlcNAc β1-R2   
     where, R1 represents sugar residues added by other enzymes and is not limited in structure. Gal β represents β galactose, GlcNAc β represents β N-acetylglucosamine, Gal β1-3/4 represents binding of 1 position of Gal β and 3 position and/or 4 position of GlcNAc β, (SO 3 -6) represents addition of a sulfate group to 6 position of GlcNAc β, R2 represents -3GalNAc α, -3Gal β or -2Manα and binds to  1  position of GlcNAc β. 
   
   
       4 . An examination reagent for colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma comprising MECA-79 antibody as a major component.