title: Clinical significance of the expression of connexin26 in colorectal cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-7 Asahimachi Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagahara
authors.forename: Kosei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirakawa
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017630:Connexins; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000072259:Connexin 26