Regulation of the intestinal anion exchanger DRA (downregulated in adenoma).

Barrier function and transepithelial transport are intimately linked and are sometimes disturbed in parallel. DRA (downregulated in adenoma) is an intestinal chloride/bicarbonate exchanger that is functionally coupled to CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator) in the upper gastrointestinal tract to mediate chloride and bicarbonate secretion and to NHE3 (Na/H exchanger- isoform 3) in the lower gastrointestinal tract to mediate electroneutral NaCl absorption. All three transport proteins possess PDZ domain binding motifs that facilitate binding to members of the NHERF (Na/H exchanger regulatory factor) family of adapter proteins [NHERF, E3KARP (NHE3 kinase A regulatory protein), PDZK1 (PDZ protein kidney 1) and IKEPP (intestinal and kidney enriched PDZ protein)].

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).

Low BAX protein expression correlates with disease recurrence in preoperatively irradiated rectal carcinoma.

Purpose: To determine the prognostic impact of BAX in correlation to its upstream effector p53 as well as clinicopathologic variables and patient outcome in preoperatively irradiated rectal carcinoma.

Methods And Materials: We investigated 92 rectal carcinoma patients treated by preoperative radiotherapy to a total dose of 30 Gy followed by surgery. Median follow-up was 71 months.