Increased mRNA expression of a novel prostacyclin-stimulating factor in human colon cancer

We recently cloned a prostacyclin (PGl(2))-stimulating factor (PSF), which stimulates PGl(2) production by cultured vascular endothelial cells. Immunohistochemistry and Northern blot analysis demonstrated that PSF was highly expressed in colon cancer sites compared with normal colon mucosa obtained from the same patient, as well as in cultured adenocarcinoma cell lines compared with cultured normal colon mucosal cell lines. Increased levels of the PSF protein were detected in the culture media of these adenocarcinoma cells compared with levels in the culture media of normal mucosal cells. These results suggest that PSF is closely associated with carcinogenesis of colon mucosa.