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Background and purpose: Some factors are involved in progression and metastasis in colorectal cancer with same differentiation and invasion. Galectin-3 is one suspected factor which has the capacity to self–review and to differentiate to carcinoma cells. This study has evaluated the association of Galectin-3 expression with clinicopathologic features and survival in patients with colorectal cancer.

Materials and methods: This descriptive-analytic study was performed in 130 paraffin-embedded colorectal tumor specimens obtained from Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital, Iran 2006- 2012. The type and grade of the samples were identified by two independent experienced pathologists. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed by mouse monoclonal antibody kit of Galectin-3.The expression less than 50% was considered negative (score1) and more than 50% was regarded as strong or moderate (score2).

Results: Overall 130 cases were studied (70 males and 60 females, mean age 5.82 ± 11.9 years). There were18 mucinous carcinoma and 112 adenocarcinoma samples. The expression of Galectin-3 was observed in cytoplasm of all tumor cells. Weak and strong expressions were found in 69 and 61 specimens, respectively. This study demonstrated no relationship between Galectin-3 expression and the age, gender, size, place, and tumor grade (P>0.05). But the expression of Galectin-3 was associated with metastases, lymph node involvement and survival. In other words, more lymph node involvement, widespread metastases and lower survival rate were seen in patients with negative Galectin-3 expression (P<0.05). The mean survival rate in cases with weak and strong expression of Galectin-3 were 31 and 42 months, respectively.

Conclusion: Further large-scale investigations on Galectin-3 expression could be beneficial in prognosis and improving treatment strategies.

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Background and purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men and fourth in women. In Iran, its prevalence rate is currently growing. Many risk factors are believed to be associated with this disease, but in recent years, the role of chemokines especially CXCR4 is outstanding. This study aimed at investigating the relationship between clinicopathological characteristics of patients and the rate of recurrence, metastasis, and death due to CRC by assessing the CXCR4 expression. 

Materials and methods: The expression of CXCR4 was studied by immunochemistry method (IHC) on 50 CRC paraffin blocks which were qualified for both tumor and adjacent normal colorectal mucosa (as control).

Results: Fifty paraffin blocks (from 25 male and 25 female, mean age: 64.57±13.9) were composed of 47 adenocarcinomas and 3 mucinous carcinomas. The CXCR4 expression was negative in 21cases (42%), cytoplasmic in 18 (36%), nuclear in 9 (18%), and both nuclear and cytoplasmic in 2 cases (4%). A significant relationship was found between CXCR4 expression and recurrence of CRC. But no association was found between the marker expression and other clinicopathologic parameters.

Conclusion: During the study on the chemokine expression, a relationship was found between CXCR4 and CRC recurrence. Therefore, after assessing more specimens, this chemokine marker could be used as a predictor of tumor recurrence in the future.

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancers worldwide. Despite the improved therapeutic and diagnostic strategies and screening programs, morbidity and mortality of CRC is still considerable. Currently, most common approaches for diagnosis of CRC are colonoscopy and fecal occult blood test (FOBT). Because of the invasive nature of colonoscopy and low sensitivity of FOBT, it is essential to find precise and noninvasive methods for early diagnosis, monitoring, and control of colorectal cancer. In recent years, there has been growing interest in finding sensitive and non-invasive molecular biomarkers by evaluating expression profiles of miRNAs in patients with colorectal cancer. Many studies have shown the important role of microRNAs in regulating the expression of genes involved in tumorigenesis, which has led researchers to evaluate their ability in diagnosis and treatment of various cancers such as colorectal cancer. In this regard, miR-21 was studied in many researches. miR-21 is one of the earliest identified cancer-promoting ‘oncomiRs’, targeting numerous tumor suppressor genes associated with prolifera­tion, apoptosis, and invasion. Overexpression of miR-21 is observed in colorectal cancer and some other cancers. Recent studies have focused on the diagnostic and prognostic value of miR-21 and its implication in drug resis­tance of human cancers. The present study is a review of recent findings on the role of miR-21 in the regulation of target genes involved in colorectal carcinogenesis and its potential as a diagnostic and prognosis biomarker in this cancer.