Loss of APAF-1 expression is associated with tumour progression and adverse prognosis in colorectal cancer

Eur J Cancer. 2007 Apr;43(6):1101-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2007.01.029. Epub 2007 Mar 12.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of APAF-1 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Immunohistochemistry for APAF-1 was performed on a tissue microarray of 1015 mismatch-repair (MMR) proficient and 130 sporadic MLH1-negative CRCs. The association of APAF-1 with clinico-pathological features including 10-year survival time was analysed. Methylation specific PCR was performed on a subset of MMR-proficient and MLH1-negative CRC. Loss of APAF-1 was associated with advanced T stage (p-value=0.022), N stage (p-value=0.009), vascular invasion (p-value=0.001) and worse survival (p-value=0.017) in MMR-proficient CRC. In MLH1-negative CRC, loss of APAF-1 was associated with metastasis (p-value=0.041), worse prognosis (p-value<0.001) and independently predicted shorter survival time (p-value<0.001). No methylation was found in the selected region of APAF-1. APAF-1 is a marker of tumour progression in MMR-proficient CRC and an independent adverse prognostic factor in MLH1-negative CRC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 / genetics
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 / metabolism*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / mortality
  • DNA Methylation
  • DNA Mismatch Repair*
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Observer Variation
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • APAF1 protein, human
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1