Evaluation of Nrf2 signaling pathway in biopsy specimens of patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract

While expression levels of Nrf2 and ABCB1 (P−gp) were markedly higher in both mRNA and protein levels in CRC biopsies (p < 0.01), Keap1 expression level was significantly lower in these samples (p < 0.05). Positive correlations between Nrf2 expression level and tumor size (p = 0.003), lymph node (p = 0.038), distant metastasis (p = 0.008), and smoking status (p = 0.02) were observed. However, P–gp expression was associated only with patient age and smoking status. In addition, there was a positive correlation between protein levels of Nrf2 and P−gp, in both CRC (r = 0.617, p < 0.001) and non−CRC tissues (r = 0.930, p < 0.001).