Prognostic significance of metallothionein in human gastrointestinal cancer.

摘要: Purpose: Metallothionein (MT) is a small protein with high affinity for divalent heavy metal ions. This metalloprotein involved in many (patho)physiological processes, like homeostasis and detoxification, cell proliferation, apoptosis, therapy resistance, protection against oxidative damage. Alterations the immunohistochemical expression of MT have been reported various human tumors, has found to be associated poor clinical outcome. We showed previously that gastrointestinal cancer accompanied by decrease expression, but most malignant phenotypes had highest levels. The purpose present study was assess relevance cancer. Experimental Design: In this study, we determined levels, radioimmunoassay, intestinal tissue 251 patients colorectal 81 gastric assessed relation overall survival these patients. Results: More than 74% carcinomas were lower level their corresponding normal mucosa. patients, not both mucosa was, however, significantly survival, independently from clinicopathological features. Conclusions: Overexpression prognostic marker survival. cancer, significance. observation emphasizes multifunctional carcinogenesis therapy.