Abstract
BACKGROUND: Enteric neurons and enteric glial cells are a part of the enteric nervous system, which is sometimes referred to as the "second brain" of the body. This complex network of neurons controls various functions of the gastrointestinal tract, including motility, secretion, and blood flow. Research has shown that there is a connection between enteric neurons and the development of colorectal cancer, although the exact mechanisms are still being studied. METHODS: Because of the potential influence of chromosome mutations that may be common to both gliomas and colorectal cancer, we used the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to examine these mutations. RESULTS: 166 of 506 lower grade gliomas had the 1p 19q co-deletion. 150 of 616 colorectal cancers had a 1p deletion but no 19q deletion. CONCLUSION: Colorectal cancer cells adhere to and migrate along the neurons of the enteric nervous system. Therefore, cancer cells might be expected to pick up mutations from neurons and enteric glial cells during recombination events. We hypothesize that the chromosome 1p deletion in colorectal cancer above is not a chance event and instead was acquired from adjacent enteric glial cells. Chromosome 1p co-deletion may confer better survival in patients with lower grade glioma in part because of loss of the MycBP oncogene, which is important in glioma development. Enteric glia might have the chromosome 1p deletion but lack the chromosome 19q deletion of CNS gliomas, making them much less vulnerable to malignant transformation than CNS gliomas. Indeed, evidence exists for a tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 19q associated with human astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and mixed gliomas.