PUMA is a BH3-only member of the Bcl-2 family, up-regulated by p53 as a response to DNA damage. We have investigated the mRNA expression of PUMA with real-time PCR in 94 colorectal adenocarcinomas and the corresponding normal mucosa. Among them PUMA protein expression was investigated with immunohistochemistry in 23 tumours and 17 corresponding normal mucosa samples. The mRNA expression of PUMA decreased in 4% and increased in 4% of the tumours compared with the normal mucosa. The protein expression of PUMA decreased in 6% and increased in 29% of the tumours compared with the normal mucosa. Decreased PUMA expression in the tumour compared with the corresponding mucosa was correlated with the distal colon and rectum (P=0.02). We did not find any other relationship to clinical or pathological features. We suggest that the changes in PUMA expression may be of minor importance in the development of colorectal cancer.

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