Cytoplasmic expression of HuR and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in colon cancer

e22161 Background: HuR, human family embryonic-lethal abnormal vision-like protein, can bind to mRNAs and stabilizes them in the cytoplasm, resulting in more efficient translation. HuR is predominantly present in the nucleus and shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The mRNA of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is stabilized by HuR in several cancers, including breast, stomach, lung and brain. Methods: We investigated the expression and its cellular location of HuR, and Cox-2 expression in 79 colorectal cancer patients with immunohistochemistry, and evaluated the biological implications in colorectal carcinoma. Results: Nuclear HuR expression was observed in 59 (74.7%) and cytoplasmic HuR expression was seen in 25 (31.6%). Cox-2 immunoreactivity was noted in 42 (53%). The expression of cytoplasmic HuR was significantly associated with Cox-2 expression (p=0.004). And cytoplasmic expression of HuR showed correlation with lymphatic invasion (p=0.025) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.027). Nuclear HuR showed no co...