1 Putative receptors for CGRP and adrenomedullin have been investigated in the rat. Calcitonin Receptor-Like Receptor (CRLR), in combination with Receptor Activity Modifying Proteins (RAMPs) is hypothesized to bind either CGRP or adrenomedullin. The receptors known as RDC1 and L1 have also been shown to bind CGRP and adrenomedullin respectively. 2 In this study it is shown that rat CRLR cDNA speci®es a CGRP receptor when co-transfected with RAMP-1 cDNA and an adrenomedullin receptor when co-transfected with either RAMP-2 or RAMP-3 cDNA in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. 3 CRLR, RAMP, RCD1 and L1 mRNA levels and CGRP and adrenomedullin receptor densities have been measured and correlated with each other in eight rat tissues selected for their distinctive patterns of CGRP and adrenomedullin binding. 4 The data are consistent with the predictions of the CRLR/RAMP model. CGRP binding correlates well with RAMP-1 mRNA levels (R=1.0, P=0.007), adrenomedullin binding shows a tendency to vary with RAMP-2 mRNA levels (R=0.85, P=0.14) and total binding is correlated with CRLR mRNA levels (R=0.94, P=0.03). The data do not support the hypothesis that RDC1 and L1 account for the majority of CGRP and adrenomedullin binding respectively.

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These findings suggest that oncoprotein coexpression possesses significant prognostic and potential therapeutic value; incorporation of molecular markers into future prospective randomized trials is advisable.

p53 expression in primary tumors was an independent prognostic factor that influenced relapse-free survival in patients with stage II disease. In stage III patients, lack of Bcl-2 expression was independently associated with a poor prognosis and, thus, may be an indicator of aggressive phenotype.

Univariate analysis showed CD44 and MVC to be independent predictors of prognosis in colorectal carcinomas. Multivariate analysis showed that CD44 positivity was the most important indicator of an unfavorable prognosis for relapse-free and overall survival in patients with colorectal cancer. Thus, it can be deduced that whether CD44 is positive or negative in patients with colorectal cancer may have prognostic importance and in the future may be used as a factor in the pathologic evaluation of tumor specimens. This hypothesis needs to be tested prospectively in a larger number of patients.