An evaluation of nuclear factor kappa B expression in colorectal carcinoma: an analysis of 50 cases

There is a rising trend in the incidence of (colorectal carcinoma) colorectal cancer (CRC) in India. Nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) is a transcription factor which belongs to the Rel family. It has an impact on phenomena such as apoptosis, tumor progression and differentiation.

(1) To evaluate the grade and stage in 50 cases of colorectal carcinoma. (2) To evaluate the NFkB translocation into the nucleus of the cells. (3) To compare the benign and malignant areas with the degree of NFkB translocation and compare the translocation with the grade and pathological stage.

The grade and stage of the tumors was evaluated. NFkB staining was performed on the tissues. The results of the immunostaining were analyzed semi quantitatively as a percentage of positive cells.

Statistical Package for Social Sciences 13.0 statistical package program (SPSS, Lead Technologies Inc, USA) for windows was used. Correlation was carried out using the Pearson's correlation co-efficient and the Chi-square test.

There were 29 males (58%) and 21 females (42%). Most of the cases were well-differentiated adenocarcinomas (58%). There was a significant difference between NFkB translocation in the epithelial cells and lymphocytes in the benign and malignant areas (P - 0.04 and P - 0.001 respectively). There was a significant correlation between the grade of NFkB staining in the malignant epithelial cells with the tumor and nodal status (P - 0.001 and P - 0.001).

It is likely that NFkB is an important factor in the pathogenesis of CRC. Further studies including therapeutic intervention using strategies which prevent activation of NFkB in colorectal carcinoma patients will tell if we could alter the course of the disease favorably.