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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2006; 12(14): 2250-2253
Published online Apr 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i14.2250
Aberrant expression of krÜppel-like factor 6 protein in colorectal cancers
Yong-Gu Cho, Byung-Jun Choi, Jae-Whie Song, Su-Young Kim, Suk-Woo Nam, Sug-Hyung Lee, Nam-Jin Yoo, Jung-Young Lee, Won-Sang Park
Yong-Gu Cho, Byung-Jun Choi, Jae-Whie Song, Su-Young Kim, Suk-Woo Nam, Sug-Hyung Lee, Nam-Jin Yoo, Jung-Young Lee, Won-Sang Park, Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Korea
Byung-Jun Choi, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Korea
Supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) through the Cell Death Disease Research Center at The Catholic University of Korea No. R13-2002-005-01004-0.
Correspondence to: Dr. Won-Sang Park, Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Korea. wonsang@catholic.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-2-5901192 Fax: +82-2-5376586
Received: September 21, 2005
Revised: October 10, 2005
Accepted: November 18, 2005
Published online: April 14, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To investigate whether krÜppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) plays an important role in the development and/or progression of colorectal cancer.

METHODS: A total of 123 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded colorectal cancer specimens were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarray for the expression of KLF6 protein. The specimens were collected over a 3-year period in the laboratories at our large teaching hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The correlation of KLF6 expression with clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed by χ2 test and Bartholomew test.

RESULTS: Normal colonic epithelium showed weak to moderate expression of KLF6, whereas reduced KLF 6 expression or loss of KLF6 expression was seen in 45 (36.6%) of the 123 colorectal carcinoma specimens. Interestingly, aberrant expression of KLF6 was detected in 25 (43.1%) of 58 cases with metastasis to regional lymph node and in 31 (47.0%) of 66 tumors more than 5 cm in size. Statistically, loss of KLF6 expression was significantly associated with tumor size (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between KLF6 expression and Dukes’ stage (Bartholomew test, P > 0.05), tumor location and lymph node metastasis (χ2 test, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Loss of KLF6 expression may be a common and early event in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Keywords: KLF6; Mutation; Immunohistochemistry; Aggressiveness; Tumor stage; Colorectal cancer