Increased hepcidin expression in colorectal carcinogenesis

Figure 2 Hepcidin expression is associated with T-stage of colorectal cancer. Expression of hepcidin 20 (m/z 2195) and 25 (m/z 2793) was determined in urine samples of 56 colorectal cancer patients by MALDI-TOF MS, before and after desalting with desalting beads (Desalting MALDI-TOF MS), and SELDI-TOF MS and analysed with respect to T-stage. Expression of hepcidin 20 was not altered with T-stage by any of the three techniques. However, all three techniques demonstrated a significant increase in hepcidin 25 expression in T4 cancers compared to T1. Statistical significance compared to T1 (^aP < 0.05); Statistical significance compared to preceding T-stage (^cP < 0.05). Error bars denote 2 SEM.