Peripheral blood guanylyl cyclase c (GCC) expressions are associated with prognostic parameters and response to therapy in colorectal cancer patients

Guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) is expressed exclusively in normal intestinal mucosal cells, primary and metastatic colorectal cancers (CRC). The aim of this study was to determine the possible association between the GCC expressions in peripheral blood, prognostic parameters and response to chemotherapy in CRC patients. Fourty-nine metastatic CRC patients and 41 healthy controls with similar age and sex were included to this study. Peripheral blood GCC expressions are measured by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Interstingly, no GCC expression was measured in healthy controls but GCC expressions of the patients were detectable. Although there was a significant reduction in GCC expressions in 30 patients with regression (from 5.46 ± 4.12 to 0.06 ± 0.03, p < 0.0001), marked increase in GCC expressions was observed in 19 patients with progression following chemotherapy (from 0.43 ± 0.19 to 1.38 ± 0.52, p = 0.0174). Significant correlation was found between the GCC expressions and carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19-9) levels (p = 0.0041) in 30 patients with regression before chemotherapy. Marked correlation was also detected between the GCC expressions and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels (p = 0.0072) in 19 patients with progression before chemotherapy. The results of the present study suggest that peripheral blood GCC expressions along with CEA and CA19-9 can be used to determine the early respose to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic CRC. These findings imply that higher expression of GCC in peripheral blood seems to be an indicator of good therapeutic response to chemotherapy and remission. Monitoring the peripheral blood GCC expressions may allow employing different treatment options to metastatic CRC patients.