title: Prognostic Impact of Polymorphisms in the CASPASE Genes on Survival of Patients with Colorectal Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study analyzed potentially functional polymorphisms in CASPASE (CASP) genes and their impact on the prognosis for Korean colorectal cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 397 consecutive patients with curatively resected colorectal adenocarcinoma were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA from these patients was extracted from fresh colorectal tissue, and the 10 polymorphisms in the CASP3, CASP6, CASP7, CASP8, CASP9, and CASP10 genes were determined using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction genotyping assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median patient age was 63 years, and 218 (54.9%) patients had colon cancer, while 179 (45.1%) patients had rectal cancer. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis including pathologic stage, patient age, differentiation, and carcinoembryonic antigen level demonstrated that these polymorphisms were not associated with either disease-free or overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  None of the 10 polymorphisms in the CASP genes investigated in this study was found to be an independent prognostic marker for Korean patients with curatively resected colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology/Hematology, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jong Gwang
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: You Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yee Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Sang Kyun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Joon Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Byung Woog
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Min Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Seong Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Jun Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Gyu Seog
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Choi