Abstract 2235: Immunohistochemical analysis of RUNX2 in human colon cancer

[Background] Runt-related transcription factor (RUNX) family comes to attract attention in a field of differentiation and carcinogenesis. However, the RUNX2 expression in human colon cancer has not been fully analyzed. Therefore, we immunohistochemically analyzed the RUNX2 expression in human colon cancer. [Method] Primary colon cancer specimens were obtained from 158 colon cancer patients. All patients had undergone operations at Tohoku University Hospital, from 1994 to 2000. The formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections were used for immunohistochemical analysis. [Result] RUNX2 was detected exclusively in nuclear of cancer cells, and 66.5% of cancer tissues were positive for RUNX2 (105/158 cases). Statistical analysis demonstrated that positive RUNX2 status was significantly associated with poor survival (Log-lank test: P=0.0178). In addition, RUNX2-positve patients had higher incidence of lymph node and liver metastasis compared to RUNX2-negative patients (P=0.0147 and 0.0038, respectively) [Discussion] RUNX2 may therefore play an important role in metastatic ability of human colon cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2235.