Abstract

Introduction: Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the most leading causes of cancer related mortalities and metastasis is the main cause of death in CRC patients. Versican (VCAN) is an Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM) proteoglycan that is involved in tumor progression and cancer metastasis. The overexpression of VCAN has been observed in some cancer. Objective: In this study we aimed to analyse VCAN gene expression in patients with colorectal cancer to investigate its association with patients clinico-pathological features. Materials and methods: We collected CRC tumors and the adjacent normal tissues from 72 Iranian patients. To measure VCAN gene expression level, Real time RT-PCR was performed. Results: VCAN gene expression level is significantly increased in tumor samples compare to the adjacent normal tissues with 2.6 change in fold and also there is a significant association between VCAN gene over expression in patients with CRC stage IV and lymph node positive. Conclusion: VCAN gene is correlated with invasion and metastasis of CRC and has a capability as a candidate prognostic marker in patients with colorectal cancer. © 2018, Scientific Publishers of India. All rights reserved.