The clinical significance of apoptosis and M30 expression in colonic cancer progression

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of this study is to identify the significance of M30, an early apoptosis indicator, in colorectal cancer and its liver metastasis. Patients and methods: The expression of M30 was immunohistochemically estimated at colonic and liver metastatic tissues of 66 patients. The results were correlated to clinical and pathological features of the tumors. Results: High expression of M30 was observed in 15.5% of cases. No metastatic tissue showed expression of M30, while stage D tumors (metastasis included) showed a statistic significant lower expression of M30, when compared to earlier tumor stages. Conclusion: Low expression of M30 implies the development of resistance mechanisms against apoptosis, facilitating the progression of colon cancer.

• Cleaved CK18
• colon cancer
• liver metastasis

Acknowledgements

This study was conducted as part of a thesis for the MSc in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery Course at the Medical School of the Democritus University of Thrace.