Clinical significance of the expression of connexin26 in colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Connexin26 (Cx26) is one of the connexins (Cxs) family members which form gap junction channels. Cx26 is considered to be a tumor suppressor gene. However, recent studies revealed that over expression of Cx26 is associated with a poor prognosis in several human cancers. This study investigated the correlation between Cx26 expression and the clinicopathological features and P53 expression in colorectal cancer.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-three patients who underwent a curative resection were studied. Tissue samples were investigated by immunohistochemical staining using antibodies for Cx26 and P53. Moreover, apoptotic cells were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining.


RESULTS
Cx26 expression was found in 83 cases (54.2%) and P53 expression in 71 cases (46.4%). A correlation was observed between the Cx26 expression and recurrence, histology, and p53 expression (P < 0.05). Cx26 positive tumors had significantly longer survival than Cx26 negative tumors (P < 0.05). A multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that Cx26 expression was an independent prognostic factor (P < 0.05). However, no significant correlation was observed between Cx26 and AI.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that Cx26 expression is an independent prognostic factor in patients that undergo a curative resection of colorectal cancer.
Nomura
Shinya
S
Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-7 Asahimachi Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.
Maeda
Kiyoshi
K
Noda
Eiji
E
Inoue
Toru
T
Fukunaga
Shinya
S
Nagahara
Hisashi
H
Hirakawa
Kosei
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000072259:Connexin 26; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017630:Connexins; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000072259:Connexin 26