open access

Vol 48, No 3 (2010)
Original paper
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2010-11-13
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Fas/FasL expression in colorectal cancer. An immunohistochemical study.

Anna Pryczynicz, Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz, Andrzej Kemona
DOI: 10.2478/v10042-010-0058-3
·
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2010;48(3):425-429.

open access

Vol 48, No 3 (2010)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2010-11-13

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to assess the expression of Fas ligand (FasL) and Fas receptor (FasR) as the proteins of the post-mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in colorectal carcinoma and to investigate correlations between their expression and chosen clinico-pathological parameters. The protein expression was analyzed in 50 colorectal carcinoma patients, using the immunohistochemical method. Reaction for FasR was weak in 75.5% and strong in 24.5% of the study patients, as compared to normal glandular epithelium where FasR expression was strong in 100% of cases. On the other hand, FasL expression was found to be weak in 30% and strong in 70% of colorectal cancer patients, as compared to its lack in 100% of normal colorectal epithelium. Statistical analysis showed strong expression of FasL was found to correlate statistically significantly with vascular invasion (p = 0.005). No correlations of FasL and FasR expression in the main mass of tumor was found between other clinic-pathological parameters. Fas ligand and Fas receptor appeared to be of little usefulness as prognostic factors for different groups of colorectal carcinoma patients. However, these proteins could become good therapeutic targets for colorectal carcinoma since their expression differs distinctly between normal intestinal epithelium and cancer cells, and known is the mechanism by which cancer cells escape death via apoptosis-inducing Fas/FasL pathway disorders.

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to assess the expression of Fas ligand (FasL) and Fas receptor (FasR) as the proteins of the post-mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in colorectal carcinoma and to investigate correlations between their expression and chosen clinico-pathological parameters. The protein expression was analyzed in 50 colorectal carcinoma patients, using the immunohistochemical method. Reaction for FasR was weak in 75.5% and strong in 24.5% of the study patients, as compared to normal glandular epithelium where FasR expression was strong in 100% of cases. On the other hand, FasL expression was found to be weak in 30% and strong in 70% of colorectal cancer patients, as compared to its lack in 100% of normal colorectal epithelium. Statistical analysis showed strong expression of FasL was found to correlate statistically significantly with vascular invasion (p = 0.005). No correlations of FasL and FasR expression in the main mass of tumor was found between other clinic-pathological parameters. Fas ligand and Fas receptor appeared to be of little usefulness as prognostic factors for different groups of colorectal carcinoma patients. However, these proteins could become good therapeutic targets for colorectal carcinoma since their expression differs distinctly between normal intestinal epithelium and cancer cells, and known is the mechanism by which cancer cells escape death via apoptosis-inducing Fas/FasL pathway disorders.
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About this article
Title

Fas/FasL expression in colorectal cancer. An immunohistochemical study.

Journal

Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica

Issue

Vol 48, No 3 (2010)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

425-429

Published online

2010-11-13

Page views

2764

Article views/downloads

2167

DOI

10.2478/v10042-010-0058-3

Bibliographic record

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2010;48(3):425-429.

Authors

Anna Pryczynicz
Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz
Andrzej Kemona

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