title: Expression of apoptotic proteins in human colorectal cancer and metastatic lymph nodes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the expression of Bak, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl and procaspase-3 proteins in colorectal tumor and regional lymph nodes, as well as to investigate the correlation between them and with clinicopathologic parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of the examined proteins was evaluated by immunohistochemical study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant correlation was revealed between Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, Bak, Bax and procaspase-3 expressions and age, gender, location or size of primary tumor and grade in the main tumor mass or in lymph nodes. Additionally, the only association we found was between Bak protein in primary tumor and in adjacent metastatic lymph nodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bcl-2 protein seems to exert substantial effects prevention of apoptosis in pT3 CRC with positive lymph node involvement, while lower expressions of Bcl-xl proteins suggest that it does not play a significant part in the inhibition of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sadowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. Electronic address: zfarmdosw@umb.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Halina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Car
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pryczynicz
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guzińska-Ustymowicz
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Allergic and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof Wojciech
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kowal
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cepowicz
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kędra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
keywords: Apoptosis; Bax; Bcl-2; Colorectal cancer; Immunohistochemistry