Table 1

Staining pattern of cell cycle markers in normal colon mucosa, primary tumours, and liver metastases of patients with colorectal cancer

Normal mucosa (n=8)
AntigenBasal crypt compartmentUpper 2/3 of the cryptsPrimary tumours (n=14)Metastases (n=48)
The number of patients for the intensity of the staining or percentage of positive tumour cells is presented. In some metastases or primary tumour samples it was not possible to evaluate protein expression. Significant differences were found between normal mucosa and tumour cells (from primary tumours and metastases) for p53 (p < 0.005), Ki67 (p < 0.01), and TS (p < 0.001). For Ki67 (p = 0.011) and Rb (p = 0.024) significant differences between primary tumours and metastases were found.
Rb, retinoblastoma protein; TS, thymidylate synthase.
Ki67
    <25%0823
    26%–50%00712
    51%–75%00412
    >75%80120
Rb
    <25%0003
    26%–50%0003
    51%–75%0008
    >75%881434
p53
    ≤25%88219
    >25%001229
TS
    Low88210
    Intermediate00615
    High00421