The activity of caspase-3-like proteases is elevated during the development of colorectal carcinoma. |
| |
| Authors: | L Leonardos L M Butler P J Hewett P D Zalewski P A Cowled |
| |
| Affiliation: | Department of Surgery, The University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia, Australia. |
| |
| Abstract: | Activated caspase-3-like proteases promote apoptotic cell death by cleaving cellular substrates. Caspase-3-like activity was measured in colonic carcinomas and in matched normal colonic mucosa from 31 patients and was significantly elevated in 25/ 31 colonic carcinomas and adenomas when compared to normal mucosa (P < 0.0001). Caspase-3-like activity was much higher in normal mucosa and tumours of female subjects than of males (P < 0.0001). No correlation was obtained between caspase-3-like activity and location of the tumour, tumour grade, stage, or patient age. The marked increase in caspase-3-like activity in colorectal carcinomas may reflect an increase in the proportion of cells undergoing spontaneous apoptosis. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
