STC1 and NF-κB p65 (Rel A) is Constitutively Activated in Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB subunit p65 transcription factor are involved in various types of human malignancies. The roles of STC1 and NFκB-p65 in colorectal cancer (CRC) are still not fully understood. We investigated expression levels of NF-κB p65 and STC1 and also correlations between STC1 and NF-κB p65 expression and clinicopathological features in CRC.

Methods: Tumor tissue samples were collected from 48 patients with CRC. RT-PCR and Real-time PCR analysis was performed to examine mRNA levels of STC1 and NF-κB p65.

Results: The relative mRNA levels of STC1 and NF-κB p65 were significantly higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent mucosa (p = 0.025 and p = 0.044, respectively). The data also showed that STC1 and NF-κB p65 mRNA levels were not significantly associated with clinicopathological characteristics. In addition, there was no association between expression levels of STC1 and NF-κB p65 in tumor samples.

Conclusions: Our data indicate that STC1 and NF-κBp65 is activated constitutively in colorectal carcinoma tissues, suggesting that activation of these factors might play an important role in colorectal tumorigenesis. Future studies should examine STC1 and NF-κBp65 as a molecular target for the treatment of CRC.