(Epi)genetic regulation of osteopontin in colorectal cancerogenesis.

To identify (epi)genetic regulators of osteopontin (OPN, encoded by gene) from normal colon mucosa to adenoma, adenoma with early carcinoma and advanced carcinoma. Biopsy samples of 41 patients with different patohistologic diagnosis were used. Using qPCR, pyrosequencing and statistical analysis, we determined the expression level of osteopontin regulatory miRNAs, its copy number and methylation status. We showed that expression is inversely proportional to the expression level of and that expression might be also controlled by copy number and methylation. These results suggest that not only expression of but also its copy number, methylation status and expression of its regulators might be used as a potential biomarker of colorectal cancer.