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Involvement of heme oxygenase-1 in Korean colon cancer

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) catabolizes heme into carbon monoxide, biliverdin, and free iron which mediate its protective effect against oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to determine the expression level and activity of HO-1 in Korean colon cancer tissues and cell lines. HO-1 protein expression was higher (>1.5-fold) in tumor tissues than in adjacent normal tissues in 14 of 20 colon cancer patients, and HO-1 protein expression was closely correlated with HO-1 enzyme activity in cancer tissues. Immunohistochemical data confirmed that HO-1 protein was expressed at a higher level in colon cancer tissues than in normal mucosa. Furthermore, HO-1 mRNA and protein expression and enzyme activity were higher in the colon cancer cell lines Caco-2, SNU-407, SNU-1033, HT-29, and SW-403 than in the normal fetal human colon cell line FHC. Treatment with the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin decreased the viability of colon cancer cell lines. These data indicate that HO-1 may serve as a clinically useful biomarker of colon cancer and as a target for anticolon cancer drugs.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a grant from the National R&D Program for Cancer Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (1120340).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Radiation Cancer Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, 139-706, Republic of Korea

    Kyoung Ah Kang

  2. School of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, 690-756, Republic of Korea

    Young Hee Maeng, Rui Zhang, Young Ro Yang, Mei Jing Piao, Ki Cheon Kim, Young Ree Kim, Young Sang Koh, Hee Kyoung Kang, Chang Lim Hyun, Weon Young Chang & Jin Won Hyun

  3. Department of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju, 690-756, Republic of Korea

    Gi Young Kim

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  1. Kyoung Ah Kang
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Correspondence to Jin Won Hyun.

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Kang, K.A., Maeng, Y.H., Zhang, R. et al. Involvement of heme oxygenase-1 in Korean colon cancer. Tumor Biol. 33, 1031–1038 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-012-0336-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-012-0336-0

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