Differential expression of GUCA2A in colorectal cancer.

Cancer is a leading cause of death and colorectal cancer is among the most lethal cancers (1, 2). We mined public 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 guanylate cyclase activator 2A, GUCA2A, when comparing colorectal tumors to the tissue of origin, the colon. GUCA2A mRNA was present at significantly higher quantities in tumors of the colon as compared to normal colorectal tissue. Analysis of human survival data revealed that expression of GUCA2A in rectal tumors was correlated with overall survival in patients with rectal cancer with high neoantigen load. GUCA2A expression changes may be important for the initiation or progression of human CRC.