Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2014; 20(5): 1305-1310
Published online Feb 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i5.1305
Bax protein may influence the invasion of colorectal cancer
Anna Pryczynicz, Mariusz Gryko, Katarzyna Niewiarowska, Dariusz Cepowicz, Marek Ustymowicz, Andrzej Kemona, Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz
Anna Pryczynicz, Katarzyna Niewiarowska, Andrzej Kemona, Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz, Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland
Mariusz Gryko, Dariusz Cepowicz, 2nd Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland
Marek Ustymowicz, Faculty of Computer Science, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Author contributions: Pryczynicz A wrote the paper; Pryczynicz A and Gryko M designed the research; Pryczynicz A and Niewiarowska K performed the research; Pryczynicz A, Gryko M, Niewiarowska K, Ustymowicz M, Cepowicz D, Kemona A, and Guzińska-Ustymoiwcz K analyzed the data; Ustymowicz M contributed to the imaging processing and analysis; Kemona A and Guzińska-Ustymowicz K revised the paper; Guzińska-Ustymowicz K approved the final version to be published.
Correspondence to: Anna Pryczynicz, PhD, Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Waszyngtona 13, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland. pryczynicz.anna@gmail.com
Telephone: +48-85-7485996   Fax: +48-85-7485996
Received: September 9, 2013
Revised: October 16, 2013
Accepted: November 1, 2013
Published online: February 7, 2014
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the expression of Bcl-xL, Bak, and Bax proteins in correlation with particular clinico-histopathological parameters, including tumor invasion front, in patients with colorectal cancer.

METHODS: The expression of these proteins was evaluated with the use of the immunohistochemical method in 50 primary tumors.

RESULTS: According to observations, a low expression of Bax and Bak proteins is related to the localization of the tumor in the rectum (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05 respectively), which may explain an increased incidence of colorectal cancer in this area. A positive expression of Bax protein also correlates with the presence of cancer cell infiltration to lymph and blood vessels (P < 0.05), which may suggest the participation of this protein in the early stages of colorectal cancer progression. Moreover, a positive expression of Bcl-xL protein correlated with a positive expression of Bak protein. This may suggest a greater participation of Bcl-xL protein in the inhibition of the proapoptotic Bak protein, but not the Bax protein.

CONCLUSION: Bax protein is probably very significant in the cancerogenesis mechanism in the large intestine.

Keywords: Bak, Bax, Bcl-xL, Cancer cell infiltration, Colorectal cancer

Core tip: We determined the expressions of Bax, Bak, and Bcl-xL proteins in colorectal cancer tissue. We reported that low expression of Bax and Bak proteins is related to the localization of the tumor in the rectum, which may explain an increased incidence of colorectal cancer in this area. We also presented the participation of Bax protein in the early stages of colorectal cancer progression. Moreover, our results suggest a greater participation of Bcl-xL protein in the inhibition of the proapoptotic Bak protein, but not the Bax protein. Therefore, Bax protein is probably very significant in the carcinogenesis mechanism in the large intestine.