Expression of RUNX3 Protein in Human Colorectal Carcinoma and its Clinical Significance

Background:Runx3(runt-related transcription factor 3) is a novel tumor suppressor gene,abnormal expression of Runx3 has been observed in a variety of human gastrointestinal tumors.Aims:To investigate the expression of RUNX3 protein and its possible relationship with the clinicopathological features of human colorectal carcinoma.Methods:Ninety human colorectal carcinoma specimens and the adjacent mucosal tissues were recruited.The expression of RUNX3 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:Forty-three colorectal carcinomatous tissues showed RUNX3 protein expression,the positivity rate was significantly lower than that of paracancerous mucosal tissues(47.8% vs.100%,P0.05).The expression of RUNX3 protein was correlated with infiltration,differentiation,Dukes staging,and lymph node metastasis(P0.05),but not with gender,age,site,size,and histological type of colorectal carcinoma(P0.05).The deeper the infiltration depth,the poorer the degree of differentiation,the more advanced the Dukes staging and lymph node involvement of the cancerous tissues,the lower the expression of RUNX3 protein.Conclusions:The expression of RUNX3 protein may be associated with the degree of infiltration,differentiation and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma.It suggests that downregulation of RUNX3 protein plays an important role in the development and progression of colorectal carcinoma.