title: Implications of cleaved caspase 3 and AIF expression in colorectal cancer             based on patient age.
abstract: A high incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been established in the elderly population. Apoptosis is a key event in maintaining colon homeostasis, both in aging as well as in cancer prevention. Here, we report that colon morphology is affected during the aging process: crypt loss (P=0.045) and increasing distances between crypts (P=0.0001678) were observed, associated with a tendency for mucosa reduction (P=0.083). In addition, our results show that apoptosis plays a determining role on the effect of aging during CRC. Increased expression of cleaved caspase 3 (the key factor implicated in the caspase-dependent pathway; P=0.026 for non-tumor tissues, P=0.0013 for tumor tissues) and AIF (implicated in the caspase-independent pathway; P=0.037) in tissue from elderly patients has been observed. Furthermore, elderly patients respond better to chemotherapy than younger ones (P=9.27 x 10(-5)). These results suggest that patient age should be taken into account to adapt treatment of CRC.
authors.affiliation: Limoges University, EA 3842 Laboratory, Homéostasie Cellulaire et Pathologies, Medicine and Pharmacy Faculties, 87025 Limoges Cedex, France. aurelie.perraud@unilim.fr
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perraud
authors.forename: Hussein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akil
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nouaille
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Labrousse
authors.forename: Marie-Odile
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Jauberteau
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mathonnet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D017209:Apoptosis; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: C494829:AIFM1 protein, human; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; D053148:Caspase 3