Expression of UQCRC1 in colorectal cancer tissue and its correlation with serum CEA

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression levels of ubiquinol cytochrome c reductase core protein 1(UQCRC1) in colorectal cancer tissues, and its correlation with serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) level.

MethodsThe expression levels of UQCRC1 in 52 cases of colorectal cancer tissue and 37 cases of paracancer tissue were detected using the immunochemistry SP method, and the relationship between the expression levels of UQCRC1, and clinicological characteristics of colorectal cancer and serum level of CEA were analyzed.

ResultsThe down-regulation rates of UQCRC1 in cancer tissue and normal tissue adjacent to cancer were 30.8% and 10.8%, respectively, and the difference of which was statistically significant(χ²=4.94, P < 0.05).The UQCRC1 expression was related to lymph node metastasis of colorectal cancer, and the negative expression rate in patients with lymph node metastasis(45.5%) was higher than that in patients without lymph node metastasis(20.0%)(P < 0.05).The UQCRC1 expression in cancer tissue was negatively correlated with the preoperative serum CEA level(r=-0.300, P < 0.05).

ConclusionsThe down-regulation of UQCRC1 expression in colorectal cancer may play an important role in tumorigenesis and development, and UQCRC1 combined with serum CEA can provide the theoretical basis in the assessment of colorectal cancer.