Morphological and genetic abnormalities in prediction of recurrence in radically operated colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
We analyzed clinicopathological variables, cell proliferation activity and genetic aberrations related to colorectal cancer in order to recognize clinically usable predictive markers of cancer recurrence.


METHODS
A total of 111 patients radically operated upon because of primary colorectal cancer in 1986-1991 were studied. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 18q21 and replication errors were studied by polymerase chain reaction and fragment analysis. Expression of p53 protein and that of Ki-67 were studied using immunohistochemical methods.


RESULTS
LOH at 18q21 was the only factor associated with recurrence (P = 0.03), and indicated a worse five-year cumulative survival rate (42%) than did LOH-negativity (72%) in cases of Dukes classes B and C. Expression of p53 protein indicated recurrence (P = 0.07), short disease-free time and poor survival (P = 0.03) in Dukes class A cases.


CONCLUSIONS
LOH at 18q21 appears useful in predicting recurrence and poor survival in cases of Dukes classes B and C, as does p53 expression in class A cases.
Jernvall
P
P
Biocenter Oulu and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on Reproductive Health, University of Oulu, Finland.
Mäkinen
M J
MJ
Karttunen
T J
TJ
Mäkelä
J
J
Vihko
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020137:Base Pair Mismatch; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53