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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

A Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Sporadic Colorectal Cancer
Published on: July 6, 2017
Haptoglobin expression in human colorectal cancer.
Óscar Mariño-Crespo1, Elisa Cuevas-Álvarez2, Amy L Harding3
1Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Biomedical Research Centre (CINBIO, "Centro Singular de Investigación de Galicia"), University of Vigo, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain.
Haptoglobin (Hp) is expressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue, correlating with metastasis. This study confirms Hp expression in CRC and its association with disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute-phase protein.
- Hp expression has been detected in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue.
- Hp expression correlates with metastasis in CRC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of Hp in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue.
- To determine the association between Hp expression and CRC progression.
- To analyze Hp expression in both in vivo and in vitro CRC models.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting on 62 CRC patient specimens (healthy and tumor).
- Quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry on Caco-2 and HT-29 CRC cell lines.
- Analysis of Hp expression in relation to Dukes' stage and metastasis.
Main Results:
- Hp immuno-positive staining was absent in healthy colorectal specimens.
- Hp was observed in 24% of CRC tumor specimens as cytoplasmic granules within cancer cells.
- Hp expression in CRC was associated with Dukes' stage and the presence of metastasis.
- Caco-2 and HT-29 cells expressed Hp mRNA and the protein was detected at the cell surface.
Conclusions:
- This study confirms the expression of Haptoglobin (Hp) in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue, both in vivo and in vitro.
- Hp expression in CRC is associated with disease progression and metastasis.
- Further research into Hp's role in CRC metastasis is warranted.
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