The role of fibronectin and nitric oxide (NO) in gastrointestinal cancers.
OBJECTIVE
Gastrointestinal cancers are one of the most common malignancies in the world. Various etiologic factors have been proposed including viruses, chemical agents, and genetic factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of fibronectin (FN) and nitric oxide (NO) in gastric and colorectal cancers.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients (22 males, 17 females) with colorectal, 18 (10 males, 8 females) with gastric cancer, and 22 healthy control subjects were included in the study. The Griess reaction was used for the measurement of NO levels. An immunochemical reaction was used for measurement of FN levels.


RESULTS
We found increased levels of NO in colon and gastric cancer, and decreased levels of FN in colon cancer when compared with healthy control subjects. Neither FN nor NO levels were associated with age, gender, stage of disease and survival status. No significant association was found between NO and FN levels.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, these two molecules might contribute to the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal cancers. The combination with standard chemotherapy and nitric oxide synthase inhibitors may be useful for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.
Hazar
Burhan
B
Department of Oncology, Mersin University Medical Faculty, Mersin Community Hospital, Turkey. Hazarburhan@hotmail.com
Polat
Gürbüz
G
Bagdatoglu
Ozlen
O
Seyrek
Ertugrul
E
Tezcan
Yilmaz
Y
Kanik
Arzu
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
D005353:Fibronectins; D009569:Nitric Oxide