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Published on: February 21, 2019
Protein kinase C-beta II (PKC-beta II) expression in patients with colorectal cancer
Karen-Lise Garm Spindler1, Jan Lindebjerg, Michael Lahn
1Danish Colorectal Cancer Group South, Vejle Hospital, 7100, Vejle, Denmark. Karen-lise.garm.spindler@vgs.regionsyddanmark.dk
Purpose:
Current development of targeted agents for the treatment of colorectal cancer include the clinical evaluation of kinase inhibitors, such as enzastaurin, a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor designed to suppress signaling through Protein Kinase C (PKC) and AKT pathways. Little is known about the expression of PKC-beta in colorectal cancer or the prognostic value in colorectal cancer, which was the focus of the present study.
Methods:
PKC-beta II protein expression was examined in 99 primary colorectal adenocarcinomas and 33 corresponding regional lymph node metastases by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The PKC-beta II immunoreactivity was mutually compared and correlated with survival information of all examined patients.
Results:
Immunohistochemical expression of PKC-beta II was detected in 18/99 carcinomas (18.2%). There was no correlation between PKC-beta II staining and traditional clinicopathological parameters. However the median survival was 2.2 years in PKC-beta II expressing tumors compared to 5.4 in PKC-beta II negative tumors (p = 0.25), with a trend for association to poor prognosis.
Conclusion:
We here describe for the first time the immunohistochemical detection of PKC-beta II in patients with colorectal cancer and show a trend associating with poor survival. The role of PKC-beta II staining in colorectal tumors deserves further evaluation.
Insights
Protein Kinase C-beta II (PKC-beta II) expression in colorectal cancer shows a trend toward poor prognosis. Further research is needed to evaluate PKC-beta II
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Targeted therapies for colorectal cancer (CRC) are under development, including kinase inhibitors.
- Protein Kinase C (PKC) and AKT pathways are key signaling routes in cancer.
- The expression and prognostic significance of PKC-beta in CRC remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of PKC-beta II in colorectal adenocarcinomas and lymph node metastases.
- To determine the prognostic value of PKC-beta II expression in colorectal cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to examine PKC-beta II protein expression in 99 primary colorectal adenocarcinomas and 33 lymph node metastases.
- PKC-beta II immunoreactivity was correlated with clinicopathological parameters and patient survival data.
Main Results:
- PKC-beta II expression was detected in 18.2% of colorectal carcinomas.
- No correlation was found between PKC-beta II staining and traditional clinicopathological parameters.
- Patients with PKC-beta II expressing tumors had a median survival of 2.2 years versus 5.4 years for negative tumors, indicating a trend toward poor prognosis (p = 0.25).
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first description of immunohistochemical detection of PKC-beta II in colorectal cancer.
- A trend suggests that PKC-beta II expression is associated with poorer survival in colorectal cancer patients.
- The role of PKC-beta II in colorectal tumors warrants further investigation.
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