Objective:To explore the expression of R-spondin family in colorectal cancer tissues and adjacent tissues,and to evaluate its relationship with clinic-pathological stage.Methods:A total of 64 samples of colorectal cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were collected from the patients,who received radical surgery in Xiangya Hospital,Central South University between January 2014 and August 2014.The mRNA and protein expression levels of R-spondin 1-4 and β-catenin in the colorectal cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were detected by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.The relationship between the expression level of R-spondin 1-4 and the clinic-pathological factors were analyzed to explore the correlation between the expression level of R-spondin 1-4 and β-catenin in colorectal cancer.Results:Compared with the adjacent tissues,the mRNA and protein expression levels of R-spondin 1 were elevated in the colorectal cancer tissues (P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of R-spondin 2-4 were increased in the colorectal cancer tissues than those in the normal tissues (P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the colorectal cancer tissues and adjacent tissues (P＞0.05).The expression level of R-spondin i was positively correlated with the nuclear expression of β-catenin in the colorectal cancer tissues (r=0.6307,P＜0.05).Conclusion:Compared with the adjacent tissues,the mRNA and protein expression levels of R-spondin 1 are significantly elevated in the colorectal cancer tissues.R-spondin 1 may play a role in promoting carcinogenesis by regulating the activity of β-catenin in the downstream of Wnt signaling pathway.

To explore the association of nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family caspase recruitment domain containing 3 (NLRC3) with prognosis and tumor immunity in patients with stage III colorectal cancer.
 Methods: Data of 122 patients with stage III colorectal cancer, who underwent radical resection from 2012 to 2013 in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, were retrospectively collected. The expressions of NLRC3 and CD8+ were examined by immumohistochemical (IHC) staining. The preoperative clinical data were used to obtain neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the stability of microsatellite was determined. The relationship between NLRC3 and clinicopathological factors was analyzed by χ2 test, and the independent prognostic factors for patients with stage III colorectal cancer were determined by COX regression model.
 Results: The expression of NLRC3 was significantly associated with CD8+ T cells infiltration (χ2=27.79, P<0.01), NLR (χ2=6.35, P<0.05), lymph node metastasis (LN) (χ2=10.12, P<0.01) and microsatellite stability (χ2=6.05, P<0.05). NLRC3 (OR=0.066, 95% CI 0.020 to 0.218), vascular emboli (OR=3.119, 95% CI 1.547 to 6.286) and NLR (OR=5.103, 95% CI 2.465 to 10.563) had an effect on overall survival (OS) for patients with stage III colorectal cancer (all P<0.05). In addition, NLRC3 (OR=0.144, 95% CI 0.055 to 0.377), vascular emboli (OR=3.589, 95% CI 1.859 to 6.932) and NLR (OR=2.939, 95% CI 1.509 to 5.723) also had an effect on disease-free survival (DFS) for patients with stage III colorectal cancer (all P<0.05).
 Conclusion: NLRC3, intravascular emboli and NLR are independent prognostic factors for patients with stage III colorectal cancer. NLRC3 might be a good prognostic factor for patients with stage III colorectal cancer due to its capacity of inhibiting systemic inflammation and promoting local anti-tumor immunity.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neutrophils ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies