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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
A Multiplexed Luciferase-based Screening Platform for Interrogating Cancer-associated Signal Transduction in Cultured Cells
Published on: July 3, 2013
Altered expression of the KLF4 in colorectal cancers
Byung Joon Choi1, Yong Gu Cho, Jae Whie Song
1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
KLF4 is an important regulator of cell proliferation and is maximally expressed in epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract. Inactivation of the KLF4 gene by genetic and epigenetic alterations has been reported in colorectal cancers, but the expression pattern of the KLF4 protein has not been studied. Here, to investigate the roles of KLF4 in colorectal carcinogenesis, we examined the expression pattern of the KLF4 protein in 123 colorectal cancers by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarray. Moderate to strong nuclear staining for KLF4 was found in normal colonic mucosa. Interestingly, loss of KLF4 expression was observed in 30 (24.4%) of 123 colorectal cancers. Statistically, loss of KLF4 protein expression was not associated with clinocopathologic parameters, including tumor stage (Bartholomew test, P>0.05), lymph node metastasis, differentiation, tumor location, and tumor size (chi2 test, P>0.05). These results indicate that loss of the KLF4 expression might play a role in tumor development as an early event for a subset of colorectal cancers.
Insights
Loss of the KLF4 protein, a cell proliferation regulator, was observed in 24.4% of colorectal cancers. This loss may indicate an early event in tumor development for some patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) regulates cell proliferation and is highly expressed in gastrointestinal epithelial cells.
- Genetic and epigenetic alterations inactivating KLF4 are known in colorectal cancers.
- The KLF4 protein expression pattern in colorectal cancer remains uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of KLF4 in colorectal carcinogenesis.
- To determine the expression pattern of the KLF4 protein in colorectal cancers.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to examine KLF4 protein expression.
- Tissue microarray analysis was performed on 123 colorectal cancer samples.
- Expression levels were correlated with clinocopathologic parameters.
Main Results:
- Normal colonic mucosa showed moderate to strong nuclear KLF4 staining.
- Loss of KLF4 protein expression was detected in 30 (24.4%) of 123 colorectal cancers.
- No statistically significant association was found between KLF4 loss and tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, differentiation, location, or size.
Conclusions:
- Loss of KLF4 protein expression occurs in a subset of colorectal cancers.
- This loss may represent an early event in the development of colorectal tumors.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role of KLF4 in colorectal carcinogenesis.
