Most patients with gastric cancer are diagnosed at advanced clinical stages with a high frequency of lymph node metastasis. It is very important to find novel factors for the early diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of gastric cancer. It has been shown that IGF-1R activates mitotic division and inhibits apoptosis of cancer cells through the activation of signaling MAP/ERK and PI3K/Akt-1 pathways. IGF-1R plays a role in cell transformation and maintenance of the phenotype in modified cells. Moreover, an IGF-1 receptor effect influences the processes of adhesion, migration, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. The aim of the study was to assess the expression of IGF-1R in gastric carcinoma in correlation with selected anatomo-clinical parameters. The study enrolled a group of 49 patients treated surgically for gastric cancer. 28 patients had no lymph node metastases. The expression of the studied proteins was assessed using the immunohistochemical method. We found that the expression of IGF-1R in gastric cancer is associated with lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001), is correlated with worse prognosis and high histological malignancy grade, and is an independent predictor of survival in patients with gastric cancer (p < 0.001). IGF-1R may play an important role in tumor growth and metastasis via the lymphatic pathway.

Abstract. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a rare neoplasm that affects the gastrointestinal system, and is characterized by a high mortality rate. It has been demonstrated that apoptosis has a significant role in the regulation of cancer cells. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to immunohistochemically assess the expression of proteins belonging to the caspase family, namely caspase-8, pro-caspase-3 and cleaved (active) caspase-3 in pancreatic cancer. The study group consisted of 29 patients exhibiting PDAC. Protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods. The expression of caspase-8 in normal cells was negative in 17.2% of cases and positive in 82.8% of cases. All cases demonstrated pro-caspase-3 expression in normal pancreatic cells, compared with 93.1% of cancer cells. Staining for activated caspase-3 was positive in 27 normal tissue cases, compared with positivity in only 10 cancer cases. Caspase-8 expression positively correlated with cleaved caspase-3 expression in the cytoplasm of cancer cells (P<0.002). Caspase-3 expression was identified to correlate with inflammatory peritumoral infiltration (P<0.015). No correlation was observed between caspase expression and any other clinicopathological parameters. The results of the present study demonstrated aberrant initiation of cancer cell apoptosis in PDAC via a decrease in caspase-8 expression, which may lead to disorders in the activation of effector caspase-3.

Bax protein is probably very significant in the cancerogenesis mechanism in the large intestine.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) inhibits the ability of cancer cells to metastasize, but it can also stimulate cancer development. The aim of this study was to assess the level of TIMP-1 in serum and its expression in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The study group consisted of 43 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 24 healthy volunteers. The level of TIMP-1 was assessed by the ELISA method while the expression of this protein was performed immunohistochemically. The concentration of TIMP-1 in the sera of colorectal cancer patients was significantly higher than in the healthy control group (p = 0.004). Higher level of TIMP-1 in the sera correlated with female gender (p = 0.045), tumor location in colon (p = 0.016), poorly differentiated tumor (p = 0.034) and higher platelet count in whole blood (p < 0.004). A positive reaction of the protein in cancer cells was observed in 31 cases and was found to correlate negatively with its reaction in peritumoral stroma (p < 0.001). According to this study, TIMP-1 protein may play an important role in cancer development. The assessment of this molecule in serum and tissue can be useful at the time of diagnosis and can help us to understand the nature of colorectal pathogenesis.

Insulin Like Growth Factor (IGF I) as the one of the strongest growth factors which can affect cancers development including colorectal cancer. IGF I induces processes of the cells growth and division. It regulates cells cycle and inhibits apoptosis. There is limited data about correlation between IGF I and staging of the tumor. the aim of the study was estimation of the clinical usefulness of IGF I concentration in the serum of the patients with colorectal cancer. Material and methods. We have examined 125 individuals with colorectal cancer. The age range was 36 to 92 years. They have been operated in the 2nd Departament of The Gastrointestinal Surgery of the Medical University in Białystok. Serum concentration of the IGF I have been estimated using immunoassay ELISA before and after operation. Correlation between serum level of IGF I and clinicopathologic features: age, gender, localisation of the primary tumor, TNM stage of tumor, histological type and histological grade (G) of the cancer have been estimated. Results. Our study revealed statistically significant increased serum concentration of IGF I in patients with locally advanced colorectal cancer (pT3 and pT4) comparing to less advanced (pT2) The investigations showed higher serum concentration of IGF I in patients with poorly differentiated cancers (G3) than in moderately differentiated. Similarly higher serum concentration of IGF I were found in male, in patients older than 60 years and in mucigenous colorectal cancers. conclusions. Our results indicated that IGF I can be one of the factors of the prognosis in colorectal cancer development.