Prognostic implications of BAX protein expression and microsatellite instability in all non-metastatic stages of primary colon cancer treated by surgery alone.

Purpose: This study examined whether the apoptosis-related protein, BAX, or the microsatellite-instability phenotype provide prognostic information in patients with resected colon cancer.

Methods: A total of 371 stage I-III patients that previously underwent radical surgery were included (mean follow-up 51.8 months).