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B7‐H3 expression in colorectal cancer: Nuclear localization strongly predicts poor outcome in colon cancer
Author(s) -
Ingebrigtsen Vibeke Anett,
Boye Kjetil,
Tekle Christina,
Nesland Jahn Martin,
Flatmark Kjersti,
Fodstad Øystein
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.27566
Subject(s) - colorectal cancer , metastasis , cancer , medicine , pathology , immunohistochemistry , cancer research , oncology , biology
In colorectal cancer there is a need for molecular markers that can complement the histopathological staging in predicting the likelihood of disease recurrence following curatively intended surgery. B7‐H3 is an immunoregulatory protein shown to be overexpressed in several cancer forms, often associated with more advanced disease and poor prognosis. We wanted to examine whether B7‐H3 could be a potential prognostic marker in colorectal cancer. Paraffin‐embedded samples from 277 colorectal cancer patients were immunostained with anti‐B7‐H3 antibody. B7‐H3 was expressed in the tumor cell cytoplasm and cell membrane in 62% and 46% of the samples, respectively. Unexpectedly, B7‐H3 was expressed in the nucleus in 30% of the tumors. The nuclear localization was confirmed by Western immunoblotting of subcellular fractions. Importantly, in colon cancer, nuclear B7‐H3 expression was independently and significantly associated with reduced metastasis‐free, disease‐specific and overall survival. B7‐H3 expression in tumor‐associated vasculature and fibroblasts was observed in the majority of samples, and endothelial B7‐H3 expression was also significantly associated with poor outcome in colon cancer. In rectal cancer patients, the only significant association was between fibroblast B7‐H3 expression and shorter metastasis‐free survival. Few significant associations to clinicopathological parameters were seen. The results indicate that nuclear B7‐H3 might be involved in colon cancer progression and metastasis, and suggest that nuclear B7‐H3 could become a useful prognostic marker in colon cancer.