title: Downregulated Ku70 and ATM associated to poor prognosis in colorectal cancer among Chinese patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) are a key factor in carcinogenesis. The necessary repair of DSBs is pivotal in maintaining normal cell division. To address the relationship between altered expression of DSB repair of proteins Ku70 and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) in colorectal cancer (CRC), we examined the expression levels and patterns of Ku70 and ATM in CRC samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression and coexpression of Ku70 and ATM were investigated by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays and confirmed further with fluorescent immunohistochemistry in CRC and pericancerous samples from 112 Chinese patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Downexpression patterns for both Ku70 and ATM were found in the CRC samples and were significantly associated with advanced tumor node metastasis stage and decreased 5-year overall survival rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Downregulated Ku70 and ATM were associated with poor disease-free survival. Loss of Ku70 and ATM expression might act as a biomarker to predict poor prognosis in patients with CRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, People's Republic of China ; Department of Clinical Research Center, Affiliated 2nd Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, People's Republic of China ; Department of Human Anatomy and Histo-Embryology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jingyan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuanming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
keywords: DNA double-strand breaks; Ku70; ataxia-telangiectasia mutated; colorectal cancer