Abstract
A total of 63 patients with colorectal cancer were studied for proliferative activity by an immunohistochemical technique using a monoclonal antibody against DNA polymerase alpha. The DNA polymerase alpha positive cell rates ranged from 24.0% to 74.6%. There was a correlation between the DNA polymerase alpha positive cell rates of biopsies and resected specimens. There was no significant correlation between DNA polymerase alpha positive cell rates and histological type, tumour size, invasion of bowel wall, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, lymph node metastasis or peritoneal metastasis. Tumours with a high growth fraction (a DNA polymerase alpha positive cell rate greater than or equal to 42%) were more frequently associated with liver metastasis than those with a low growth fraction (a DNA polymerase alpha positive cell rate less than 42%). Patients with high growth fraction tumours had significantly poorer prognoses than those with low growth fraction tumours. The results of multivariate analysis using the proportional hazard model of Cox indicated that the DNA polymerase alpha positive cell rates, liver metastasis, and peritoneal metastasis were independent prognostic factors. The results indicate that the DNA polymerase alpha positive cell rate may be a useful prognostic marker of colorectal cancers.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yamaguchi, A., Hirono, Y., Fushida, S. et al. DNA polymerase alpha positive-cell rate in colorectal cancer and its relationship to prognosis. Br J Cancer 65, 421–424 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1992.86
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1992.86
This article is cited by
-
Direct Tumor Invasion in Colon Cancer: Correlation with Tumor Spread and Survival
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum (2008)
-
Prognostic factors in colorectal cancer
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum (1998)
-
An evaluation of DNA polymerase α as a prognostic predictor in early breast cancers smaller than 2 cm
Breast Cancer (1995)