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The heat shock proteins (HSPs) are ubiquitous molecules induced in cells exposed to various stress conditions, including carcinogenesis. The HSP70 and HSP27 among HSPs are of special relevance in human cancer inhibiting apoptosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the expressions of HSP70 and HSP27 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in association to tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis. We examined the expressions of HSP70 and HSP27 by immunohistochemical staining in 71 cases of HCC, and then related their expressions to clinicopathologic parameters and expressions of p53, Ki-67 and Apotag. HSP70 and HSP27 were frequently stained in the cytoplasm and nuclei of tumor cells, but not in the non-neoplastic hepatocytes. Immunoreactivities of HSP70 and HSP27 were observed in 56.3% and 61.9% of HCCs, respectively. HSP70 immunoreactivity correlated with high Ki-67 labeling indices (LIs) (p=0.0159), large tumor size (p=0.0129), presence of portal vein invasion (p=0.0231), and high tumor stage (p=0.0392). HSP27 immunoreactivity significantly related with the subgroup of HBV-associated HCCs (p=0.0003), but not with the others. Both HSP70 and HSP27 immunoreactivities showed no relation to Apotag LIs or p53 immunoreactivity. In conclusion, expressions of HSP70 and HSP27 may play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis, and especially HSP70 showed a close relationship to the pathological parameters associated with tumor progression and high Ki-67 LIs. Our results could be additional evidence that HSP70 expressions can contribute to not only hepatocarcinogenesis but also tumor progression by promoting tumor cell proliferation.

PurposeThis study was conducted to evaluate the systemic inflammatory response in colorectal cancer patients, and to estimate the usefulness of the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) as a prognostic factor.MethodsPatients with biopsy-proven colorectal adenocarcinoma who were operated between April 2005 and December 2008 were enrolled in this study. The GPS was estimated based on the measurement of CRP and serum albumin level. The GPS was compared with other clinicopathological factors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the factors affecting cancer-specific survival.ResultsGPS was significantly higher in patients with anemia, thrombocytosis, a high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, tumor of the colon, and large tumor. Patient age, gender, serum CEA level, tumor gross appearance, TNM stage, and tumor differentiation were not related with the GPS. In univariate analysis, hemoglobin, CEA, gross appearance of tumor, TNM stage, tumor differentiation, and GPS were associated with cancer-specific survival. In multivariate analysis, TNM stage (III or IV : I or II; hazard ratio [HR], 12.322; P = 0.015), tumor differentiation (poorly differentiated : well or moderately differentiated; HR, 3.112; P = 0.021), and GPS (GPS 2 : GPS 0 or 1; HR, 5.168; P = 0.003) were identified as independent prognostic factors in colorectal cancer.ConclusionOur study showed that the GPS was an independent variable from tumor stage and a good and convenient prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to assess the expressions of CD44 and CD133 in colorectal cancer tissue by using immunohistochemical staining and to analyze the clinical significance of the expressions related to other clinicopathological data and survival results.MethodsOne hundred sixty-two patients with a biopsy-proven colorectal adenocarcinoma who were operated on between January 1998 and August 2004 were enrolled in this study. Immunohistochemical staining for CD44 and CD133 was performed on primary colorectal cancer tissue, metastatic lymph nodes, and synchronous and metachronous metastatic tumor tissues if available.ResultsCD44 expression was stronger in the primary tumor than in metastatic lymph nodes (P < 0.001), and CD133 expression tended to be stronger in primary tumor than in metastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.057). No significant correlation was found between the CD44 and the CD133 expressions. The cases with recurrence showed low expression of CD44 (P = 0.017). CD133 expression was lower in cases with elevated CA 19-9 serum levels (P = 0.028) and advanced T stage (P = 0.038). Multivariate analysis proved that low expression of CD44 was an independent prognosis factor for short disease-free survival (P = 0.028).ConclusionLow CD44 expression was correlated with increased tumor recurrence and short disease-free survival, and low CD133 expression was associated with advanced tumor stage. We suggest that further studies be performed to evaluate whether the immunohistochemical method for determining the CD44 and the CD133 expressions is appropriate for exploring cancer stem-cell biology in patients with colorectal cancer.