APRIL is a novel clinical chemo-resistance biomarker in colorectal adenocarcinoma identified by gene expression profiling

Table 3 Tumour cell and stromal expression of APRIL protein in colorectal adenocarcinomas.

APRIL Immunohistochemistry
Tumour Cell	Positive	130 (55.6%)
	Weak	70 (29.9%)
	Moderate	49 (20.9%)
	Strong	11 (4.7%)
Stroma	Negative	104 (44.4%)
	Positive	121 (51.7%)
	Negative	113 (48.3%)

Immunohistochemical analysis of a rectal adenocarcinoma tissue microarray (n = 234 tumours) demonstrated that APRIL protein was expressed in tumour cells and/or tumour stroma. Positive stromal expression was strong. In tumour cells expressing APRIL, intensity was weak, moderate or strong. The number of rectal adenocarcinomas with positive staining for APRIL protein. Percentage of the total (n = 234) is in parentheses. There was a significant correlation between tumour cell and stromal expression (p = 0.048). There was no significant association between tumour cell or stromal staining and age, gender, histological grade, tumour site or Duke's stage (all p > 0.20. Data not shown).

ISSN: 1471-2407