10779/rcsi.10789751.v1
Steven Carberry
Steven
Carberry
Beatrice D'Orsi
Beatrice
D'Orsi
Naser Monsefi
Naser
Monsefi
Manuela Salvucci
Manuela
Salvucci
Orna Bacon
Orna
Bacon
Joanna Fay
Joanna
Fay
Markus Rehm
Markus
Rehm
Deborah A. McNamara
Deborah A.
McNamara
Elaine W. Kay
Elaine W.
Kay
Jochen H M Prehn
Jochen H M
Prehn
The BAX/BAK-like protein BOK is a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer.
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
2019
bcl2-Associated X Protein
colorectal cancer
Physiology
Medical Physics
2019-11-22 16:52:58
Journal contribution
https://repository.rcsi.com/articles/journal_contribution/The_BAX_BAK-like_protein_BOK_is_a_prognostic_marker_in_colorectal_cancer_/10789751
<p>The intrinsic or mitochondrial apoptosis pathway is controlled by the interaction of antiapoptotic and pro-apoptotic members of the BCL-2 protein family. Activation of this death pathway plays a crucial role in cancer progression and chemotherapy responses. The BCL-2-related ovarian killer (BOK) possesses three BCL-2 homology domains and has been proposed to act in a similar pro-apoptotic pathway as the pro-apoptotic proteins BAX and BAK. In this study, we showed that stage II and III colorectal cancer patients possessed decreased levels of BOK protein in their tumours compared to matched normal tissue. BOK protein levels in tumours were also prognostic of clinical outcome but increased BOK protein levels surprisingly associated with earlier disease recurrence and reduced overall survival. We found no significant association of BOK protein tumour levels with ER stress markers GRP78 or GRP94 or with cleaved caspase-3. In contrast, BOK protein levels correlated with Calreticulin. These data indicate BOK as a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer and suggest that different activities of BOK may contribute to cancer progression and prognosis.</p>