The activity of caspase-3-like proteases is elevated during the development of colorectal carcinoma

Activated caspase-3-like proteases promote apoptotic cell death by cleaving cellular substrates. Caspase-3-like activity was measured in colonic carci nomas and in matched normal colonic mucosa from 31 patients and was signifi cantly elevated in 25/ 31 colonic carcinomas and adenomas when compared to normal mucosa (P < 0.0001). Caspase-3-like activity was much higher in norm al mucosa and tumours of female subjects than of males (P < 0.0001). No cor relation was obtained between caspase-3-like activity and location of the t umour, tumour grade, stage, or patient age. The marked increase in caspase- 3-like activity in colorectal carcinomas may reflect an increase in the pro portion of cells undergoing spontaneous apoptosis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scienc e Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.