title: Morphological and genetic abnormalities in prediction of recurrence in radically operated colorectal cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Biocenter Oulu and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on Reproductive Health, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jernvall
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Karttunen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vihko
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53