A Panel of Prognostic Molecular Markers in Colorectal Cancer

Background: Identifying CRC patients with higher risk early in the course of the disease would potentially increase Survival. Methods: We performed immunohistochemical detection of a panel of molecular markers in 72 CRC biopsies. The markers are involved in disturbing of the signal chain on every level and proliferative activity (STAT3, Ki67), have anti-apoptotic impact the Suppressors (bcl2) and stimulators (bax,) are directly induced by tumor-suppressing protein (p53) due to direct transcript gene expression and areconnected with tumor progression and metastases (VEGF, MMP2 and MMP9). Findings: We generate a patient-specific index named individual risk index (IRI), which would help in determining prognosis of CRC patients. A total of 64% of the patients with clinical stage prognosis exhibited discordance with the calculated IRI values. Similarly, half of the cases showed discordance between the grade of tumour differentiation and IRI. Interpretation: The frequent finding of early CRC (stage I or II) with an unfavourable IRI could provide a better prognostic data necessary to take appropriate treatment measures in order to improve the outcome of CRC.