Nam Kyu Kim1, Jin Kyu Park2, Eunah Shin2, Young Wan Kim3. 1. Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 2. Korea CFC Pathology Laboratory, Seongnam, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Surgery, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea youngwkim@yonsei.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: To evaluate immunohistochemical expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB), cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the impacts thereof on clinicopathological tumor features and survival in patients with colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients with colorectal cancer (stage II or III) were enrolled. RESULTS: The positive expression rates of NF-κB, COX2, and VEGF were 62.1%, 51.5%, and 63.6%, respectively. Sixteen tumor samples (24.2%) coexpressed all three markers. Coexpression of all three markers correlated with pTNM III, poor histological grade, larger tumor diameter, and elevated carcinoembryonic antigen level. pTNM III and coexpression of all three markers were independent prognostic factors for cancer-specific and disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: The combination of NFκB, COX2, and VEGF expression correlated with advanced pathological features and had a prognostic impact on cancer-specific and disease-free survival. These findings suggest that coexpression of three markers may have a synergistic effect on aggressive tumor biology. Copyright
BACKGROUND/AIM: To evaluate immunohistochemical expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB), cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the impacts thereof on clinicopathological tumor features and survival in patients with colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients with colorectal cancer (stage II or III) were enrolled. RESULTS: The positive expression rates of NF-κB, COX2, and VEGF were 62.1%, 51.5%, and 63.6%, respectively. Sixteen tumor samples (24.2%) coexpressed all three markers. Coexpression of all three markers correlated with pTNM III, poor histological grade, larger tumor diameter, and elevated carcinoembryonic antigen level. pTNM III and coexpression of all three markers were independent prognostic factors for cancer-specific and disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: The combination of NFκB, COX2, and VEGF expression correlated with advanced pathological features and had a prognostic impact on cancer-specific and disease-free survival. These findings suggest that coexpression of three markers may have a synergistic effect on aggressive tumor biology. Copyright