title: High expression of Beclin-1 predicts favorable prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Beclin-1 is an autophagy gene. It promotes the formation of the autophagic vesicle as well as plays an essential role in guarding the cells against chromosomal instability. Overexpression of Beclin-1 has been reported to predict a favorable survival in various cancers. However, little is known about its prognostic significance in colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of three hundred and sixty-three (363) colorectal tissues from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients were collected. Tissue micro-arrays and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate the expression and prognostic significance of Beclin-1 in CRC. The associations among Beclin-1 expression, clinicopathological parameters and prognosis were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Beclin-1 had a higher expression in CRC tissues than in normal tissues. A high expression of Beclin-1 was positively correlated with gender (P=0.027), histological grade (P=0.003), pM status (P=0.003) and clinical stage (P=0.024). Patients with a high Beclin-1 expression, when compared to those with a lower expression had both a better overall survival (OS, P=0.006) and disease-free survival (DFS, P=0.008). In the pT3 subgroup, Beclin-1 was also found to be a good prognostic indicator (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed a high expression of Beclin-1 was indeed a positive independent prognostic factor of OS and DFS for CRC patients (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrated that a high expression of Beclin-1 correlated with a better overall survival and disease-free survival, thus serving as a favorable independent prognostic marker in CRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangdong Gastrointestinal and Anal Hospital), Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Zuli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangdong Gastrointestinal and Anal Hospital), Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Roshan Ara
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ghoorun
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Institute, Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Xinjuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Institute, Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Peihuang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangdong Gastrointestinal and Anal Hospital), Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangdong Gastrointestinal and Anal Hospital), Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Jizheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangdong Gastrointestinal and Anal Hospital), Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Colon & Rectum Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangdong Gastrointestinal and Anal Hospital), Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, 26 Yuancun Erheng road, 510655 Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Colon & Rectum Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangdong Gastrointestinal and Anal Hospital), Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, 26 Yuancun Erheng road, 510655 Guangzhou, PR China. Electronic address: wangjply01@sohu.com.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000071186:Beclin-1; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491997:BECN1 protein, human; D000071186:Beclin-1; D008565:Membrane Proteins