p73 expression and its clinical significance in colorectal cancer

Objective  To explore p73 mRNA and p73 protein expression and their clinical significance in colorectal cancer.
Method  p73 mRNA and p73 protein expression were detected using hybridization in situ and immunohistochemical method in cancerous tissue from 60 patients of colorectal cancer and in paracancerous tissue from 23 patients among the corresponding 60 patients of colorectal cancer. Quantitative analysis was performed using Smartscape image analysis system.
Results  Compared with paracancerous tissue, p73 mRNA and p73 protein expression in cancerous tissue was increased with a statistically significant difference ( P  <   0.01) and was associated with differentiation level and lymphatic metastasis.
Conclusion  High expression of p73 mRNA and p73 protein in colorectal cancer may be involved in the progression of colorectal cancer and p73 mRNA and p73 protein may serve as a potential index to predict differentiation level and prognosis of colorectal cancer.