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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2007; 13(28): 3883-3885
Published online Jul 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i28.3883
Clinicopathologic significance of BAG1 and TIMP3 expression in colon carcinoma
Yu-Xian Bai, Ji-Lin Yi, Jian-Feng Li, Hong Sui
Yu-Xian Bai, Jian-Feng Li, Hong Sui, Department of Medicine, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, Heilongjiang Province, China
Ji-Lin Yi, Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yu-Xian Bai, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China. bai_yuxian@126.com
Telephone: +86-451-86627472 Fax: +86-451-86626177
Received: April 5, 2007
Revised: April 23, 2007
Accepted: April 30, 2007
Published online: July 28, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To explore the expression of BAG1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) in colon carcinoma and their correlation and clinicopathologic significance.

METHODS: SABC immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of BAG1 and TIMP3 in 80 colon carcinoma tissues and 20 normal colonic mucosa.

RESULTS: Positive rate of BAG1 in colon carcinoma tissue (80%) was notably higher compared to normal colonic mucosa (10%) (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in positive rate of TIMP3 in colon carcinoma tissue (43.75%) as compared with normal colonic mucosa (60%) (P > 0.05). Expression of BAG1 and TIMP3 was strongly associated with colon carcinoma differentiation, Duke’s staging, lymph node metastasis and survival rate (P < 0.05), but not associated with gender and age. Moreover, BAG1 expression was not correlated with TIMP3.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that over-expression of BAG1 or attenuated expression of TIMP3 may play an important role in genesis and development of colon carcinoma. The protein expression levels of BAG1 and TIMP3 are related to the malignant degree, infiltration and metastasis of colon carcinoma. BAG1 and TIMP3 might be new biological parameters in predicting invasion and metastasis of colon carcinoma.

Keywords: BAG1; TIMP3; Colon carcinoma; Immuno-histochemistry; Duke’s staging, Metastasis