Clinical significance of the expression of connexin26 in colorectal cancer

One hundred and fifty-three patients who underwent a curative resection were studied. Tissue samples were investigated by immunohistochemical staining using antibodies for Cx26 and P53. Moreover, apoptotic cells were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining.Cx26 expression was found in 83 cases (54.2%) and P53 expression in 71 cases (46.4%). A correlation was observed between the Cx26 expression and recurrence, histology, and p53 expression (P < 0.05). Cx26 positive tumors had significantly longer survival than Cx26 negative tumors (P < 0.05). A multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that Cx26 expression was an independent prognostic factor (P < 0.05). However, no significant correlation was observed between Cx26 and AI.This study suggests that Cx26 expression is an independent prognostic factor in patients that undergo a curative resection of colorectal cancer.A gap junction is a specialized intercellular connection that directly connects the cytoplasm of two cells, and allows various molecules and ions ( < 1 kDa) to pass freely between cells. Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) mediated by gap junctions play an important role in regulating homeostasis, proliferation and differentiation [1,2]. Gap junction channels contain two hemichannels that are primarily homo -or hetero-hexamers of connexin (Cx) proteins [3]. Twenty types of Cx have been identified as transmembrane proteins [4]. A reduction or loss of GJIC function associated with human carcinomas such as skin cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, glioma and prostate cancer, is usually induced by down-regulation of Cxs [5-9]. Moreover, restoration of GJIC in tumor cell lines by Cx transfection can reduce growth and tumorigenicity [10,11]. Therefore, Cxs are thought to be tumor suppressor genes. However, over expression of Cx26 might the acquisition of malignant phenotypes and is correlated with metastasis, tu