title: Connexin 43 Expression in Primary Colorectal Carcinomas in Patients with Stage III and IV Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Protein connexin 43 (Cx43), a part of intercellular gap junctions, is frequently down-regulated in tumors. The aim of the study was to compare Cx43 expression in primary colorectal tumors of patients with stage III and IV disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical expression of Cx43 was analyzed in 50 colorectal adenocarcinomas from surgically-treated patients of stage pT3N1-2 without metastases (M0) and 50 specimens of the same pTN stage from patients with synchronous liver metastases (M1). Association of Cx43 expression with clinicopathological factors and tumor site was also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in Cx43 expression between M0 and M1 tumor specimens (p=0.817), as well as in Cx43 expression between colonic and rectal tumors (p=0.116), respectively. Stromal expression of Cx43 was higher in M1 than in M0 tumors (p=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stromal Cx43 expression is possible indicator of metastatic potential of colorectal adenocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Center "Sestre Milosrdnice", Zagreb, Croatia jasnaradic@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radić
authors.affiliation: University Department of Pathology, University Hospital Center "Sestre Milosrdnice", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Božo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krušlin
authors.affiliation: Policlinic Pimezon, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Šamija
authors.affiliation: University Department of Pathology, University Hospital Center "Sestre Milosrdnice", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulamec
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health "dr. Andrija Štampar", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milošević
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Center "Sestre Milosrdnice", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marijana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jazvić
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Center "Sestre Milosrdnice", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Šamija
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Josip Joachim
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Grah
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Center "Sestre Milosrdnice", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ante
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolanča
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Center "Sestre Milosrdnice", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zvonko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kusić
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; C500216:GJA1 protein, human
keywords: Connexin 43 (Cx43) expression; colorectal cancer; stroma; synchronous metastases