title: Bax protein may influence the invasion of colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression of Bcl-xL, Bak, and Bax proteins in correlation with particular clinico-histopathological parameters, including tumor invasion front, in patients with colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of these proteins was evaluated with the use of the immunohistochemical method in 50 primary tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to observations, a low expression of Bax and Bak proteins is related to the localization of the tumor in the rectum (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05 respectively), which may explain an increased incidence of colorectal cancer in this area. A positive expression of Bax protein also correlates with the presence of cancer cell infiltration to lymph and blood vessels (P < 0.05), which may suggest the participation of this protein in the early stages of colorectal cancer progression. Moreover, a positive expression of Bcl-xL protein correlated with a positive expression of Bak protein. This may suggest a greater participation of Bcl-xL protein in the inhibition of the proapoptotic Bak protein, but not the Bax protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bax protein is probably very significant in the cancerogenesis mechanism in the large intestine.
authors.affiliation: Anna Pryczynicz, Katarzyna Niewiarowska, Andrzej Kemona, Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz, Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pryczynicz
authors.affiliation: Anna Pryczynicz, Katarzyna Niewiarowska, Andrzej Kemona, Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz, Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gryko
authors.affiliation: Anna Pryczynicz, Katarzyna Niewiarowska, Andrzej Kemona, Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz, Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niewiarowska
authors.affiliation: Anna Pryczynicz, Katarzyna Niewiarowska, Andrzej Kemona, Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz, Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cepowicz
authors.affiliation: Anna Pryczynicz, Katarzyna Niewiarowska, Andrzej Kemona, Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz, Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ustymowicz
authors.affiliation: Anna Pryczynicz, Katarzyna Niewiarowska, Andrzej Kemona, Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz, Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kemona
authors.affiliation: Anna Pryczynicz, Katarzyna Niewiarowska, Andrzej Kemona, Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz, Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guzińska-Ustymowicz
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000032:analysis; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: C494772:BAK1 protein, human; C494826:BAX protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
keywords: Bak; Bax; Bcl-xL; Cancer cell infiltration; Colorectal cancer