Reappraisal of the role of NM23-H1 in colorectal cancers

Background and Objectives: A number of evidence indicate that downregulatio n of the nm23-H1 gene may be relevant to metastatic progression of many kin ds of human cancer. However, its role in colorectal cancers remains controv ersial. To address the issue, this study was performed to investigate the c linical relevance of nm23-H1 in patients with colorectal cancers. Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of nm23-H1 protein product (NM23-H1 ) was studied in a total of 146 colorectal cancer patients and compared for its prognostic value at a mean follow-up of 54 months. Results: There was no apparent correlation between NM23-Hl expression and c linicopathological indicators, including Dukes category, lymphatic metastas is, distant metastasis, histological grading, and tumor location (P > 0.1, respectively). In addition, determination of NM23-H1 expression status did not provide independent prognostic information compared with conventional p athological staging. Conclusions: The results indicate that nm23-H1 gene does not play an import ant part in the progression of colorectal carcinogenesis. J. Surg. Oncol. 2 001:76:58-62. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss. Inc.