Development of colorectal cancer gene expression signatures from expression profiles of embryonic development, precancer progression and cancer samples

To further development of our gene expression signature for survival prediction, we conducted expression profiles of embryonic development, precancer progression and cancer samples. Developing colon was obtained from 20 cases of abortion in Maternal & Child Health Care Hospital of Hai Dian between 2007 and 2009. The samples included whole embryos (WE) at 3 to 5 postovulatory weeks (PWs), early embryonic colons (EEC) at 8 to 10 PWs and middle embryonic colons (MEC) at 14 to 22 PWs.Normal colorectal mucosae samples were collected from patients with hemorrhoids who received surgical excision in the Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery of Beijing Shi Ji Tan Hospital between 2009 and 2010. Fifty two CRC samples with overall survival (OS) information were obtained as surgically excised specimens from Zhe Jiang University School of Medicine. Colonoscopy biopsy samples, including colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas were obtained from the Department of Endoscopy, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, between 2008 and 2011.