Levels, phosphorylation status and cellular localization of translational factor eIF2 in gastrointestinal carcinomas

The level of expression and the phosphorylation status of the alpha subunit of initiation factor 2 (eIF2 alpha) protein have been determined by compar ing samples from human stomach, colon and sigma-rectum carcinomas with norm al tissue from the same patients. The unphosphorylated and phosphorylated l evels of cytoplasmic eIF2 alpha, as well as the percentage of phosphorylate d factor over the total, were significantly higher in stomach, colon and si gma-rectum tumours compared with normal tissue. The expression of this fact or was also studied by using immunocytochemical methods, where redistributi on towards the nucleus in tumour cells as compared with normal tissue was o bserved. Our results support a likely implication of eIF2 alpha in gastroin testinal cancer.