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Expression of calreticulin is associated with infiltration of T-cells in stage IIIB colon cancer
Rui-Qing Peng, Ying-Bo Chen, Ya Ding, Rong Zhang, Xing Zhang, Xing-Juan Yu, Zhi-Wei Zhou, Yi-Xin Zeng, Xiao-Shi Zhang
Rui-Qing Peng, Ya Ding, Xing Zhang, Yi-Xin Zeng, Xiao-Shi Zhang, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Biotherapy Center, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, 651 Dongfeng R E, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
Ying-Bo Chen, Zhi-Wei Zhou, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Gastric and Pancreatic Oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, 651 Dongfeng R E, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
Rong Zhang, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Endoscopy, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, 651 Dongfeng R E, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
Xing-Juan Yu, Yi-Xin Zeng, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, 651 Dongfeng R E, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Peng RQ and Yu XJ carried out the immunohistochemical staining; Ding Y, Zhang R, Zhang X and Zhou ZW carried out the case collection; Zhang XS, Chen YB and Zeng YX conceived the study, participated in its design and coordination, and helped draft the manuscript; all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China, 30972882, Key Projects of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, China, 2008B030301079
Correspondence to: Dr. Xiao-Shi Zhang, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Biotherapy Center, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 651 Dongfeng R E, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China. zhangxsh@sysucc.org.cn
Telephone: +86-20-87343383 Fax: +86-20-87578502
Received: February 9, 2010
Revised: March 22, 2010
Accepted: March 29, 2010
Published online: May 21, 2010
AIM: To investigate the correlation between expression of calreticulin and infiltration of lymphocytes in stage IIIB colon cancer.
METHODS: Sixty-eight pathologically-confirmed specimens were obtained from stage IIIB (T3N1M0) colon cancer patients who underwent radical resection between January 1999 and May 2002 at the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to show infiltration of lymphocytes and expression of calreticulin in colon cancer. Association between calreticulin expression, infiltration of lymphocytes, and 5-year survival rate of patients was assessed.
RESULTS: The expression level of calreticulin was lower in cancer nest than in its adjacent normal epithelium since 61.8% (42/68) of the samples were stained with calreticulin in colon cancer. The expression of calreticulin in colon cancer was associated with the infiltration of CD45RO+ cells rather than with that of CD3+ cells. In addition, the stronger expression of calreticulin and the higher infiltration of CD3+ and CD45RO+ cells in colon cancer were associated with the higher 5-year survival rate of patients.
CONCLUSION: Expression of calreticulin is associated with infiltration of T-cells, which implies that a low expression level of molecular marker may represent a new mechanism underlying immune escape in colon cancer.
