High KLF4 level in normal tissue predicts poor survival in colorectal cancer patients (World Journal of Surgical Oncology)

Background: Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is involved in many important cellular processes such as growth, development, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the significance of KLF4 in both tumors and normal tissues of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Between January 2003 and June 2005, 125 patients with CRC receiving treatment at the Yonsei Cancer Center were selected. We examined the mRNA level of the KLF4 gene in primary CRC specimens and matched normal colon tissues using real-time RT-PCR. Correlation of survival with clinicopathological parameters, including KLF4 level, was investigated with univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: CRC tissue had a significantly lower KLF4 level when compared with matched normal tissues (KLF4 in tumors: 2007 +/- 1531 copies/mul, KLF4 in normal tissues: 6586 +/- 2834 copies/mul; P