Differential expression of CDH3 in colorectal cancer.

Cancer is a leading cause of death and colorectal cancer is among the most lethal cancers (1, 2). We mined published microarray datasets (3, 4) to determine in an unbiased fashion and at the level of the transcriptome genes most differentially expressed in the primary tumors of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We found significant differential expression of the gene encoding cadherin 3, type 1, P-cadherin (placental), CDH3, when comparing colorectal tumors to the tissue of origin, the colon. CDH3 was present at significantly higher quantities in tumors of the colon as compared to normal colorectal tissue. CDH3 expression changes may be important for the initiation or progression of human CRC.