ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the relationship between p53,COX-2,Bax,c-myc genes and colorectal carcinoma complicated with chronic schistosomiasis. Methods One hundred and sixty patients with colorectal carcinoma were selected and divided into two groups;a schistosomiasis group(colorectal carcinoma complicated with chronic schistosomiasis,n=80)and a non-schistosomiasis group(colorectal carcinoma uncomplicated with chronic schistosomiasis,n=80). The tissue microarray tech-niques and immunohistochemistry method were used in all the patients to detect the expressions of p53,COX-2,Bax and c-myc proteins. Results The positive rate and level of p53 protein expression in the schistosomiasis group were lower than those in the non-schistosomiasis group,but there were no significant differences between the two groups(both P>0.05). The COX-2 protein in both groups was positive,but the positive expression level of COX-2 in the schistosomiasis group was higher than that in the non-schistosomiasis group,and there was a significant difference between the two groups(P0.05). The positive rate of c-myc expression in the schistosomiasis group was higher than that in the non-schistosomiasis group,with a significant difference(P<0.01),but the positive expression level was lower than that in the non-schistosomiasis group,and there was a significant difference between the two groups(P<0.01). Conclusions Schistosome infection may impact on the deficiency of p53 of human colorectal cancer cells. It may promote the excessive expression of COX-2 protein,which is an indirect carcinogenic factor. The expression of Bax gene has no correlation with schistosome infection. The schistosome chronic infection may cause a persistent low level expression of c-myc gene.