Expression of krupple like factor 6 protein in colorectal cancer tissue and its relationship with p21 protein

Abstract

Objective To study krupple like factor 6 (KLF6) protein expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue, evaluate its possible role in the tumorigenesis and progression of CRC, and investigate its relationship with the expression of p21 protein. Methods The expression of KLF6 protein and p21 protein in CRC tissue, colorectal adenoma tissue, and normal colorectal tissues was detected by the immunohistochemistry method. The possible relationship between two protein' s expression and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed with SPSS software for Windows. Results The expression of KLF6 protein was gradually down-regulated from normal colorectal tissues to colorectal adenoma tissue to CRC tissue (x2= 25.20, P ＜ 0.01 ). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed a strong inverse correlation between the expression of KLF6 and p21 protein (r=0.74,P＜0.05). Conclusion KLF6 plays a considerable inhibitory action in genesis and development of CRC. Abnormal expression of KLF6 might have inhibitory effect on invasion and metastasis of CRC and act as an effective and objective marker to indicate the pathobiological behavior of CRC. The expression of KLF6 was positively correlated to the p21. Furthermore p21 may be an effective protein of KLF6 gene. Key words: Kruppel-like factor 6; Colorectal cancer; p21; Immunohistochemistry