As revealed by western immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining, the abundance of HSP27 protein in breast cancer MK5108 mouse cells increased beginning 3–6 h after initiation of exposure either to hypoxia or to the purine nucleoside adenosine, with a maximal effect after 24–48 h. Further studies detail the signaling pathways

and important features of the HSP27 response. These data represent the first stage in our exploration of the link between physiological stress and the capacity for migration in breast cancer cells. Funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Poster No. 51 The Impact of Obesity on Angiogenesis in Colon Cancer Patients Ekaterina Volkova 1 , Jinny A. Willis2, Bridget A. Robinson1,3, Gabi U. Dachs1, Margaret J. Currie1 1 Angiogenesis and Cancer Research Group, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 Lipids and Diabetes Research Group, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand, 3 Oncology Services, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand Obesity is associated with increased risk and mortality in colon cancer, and epidemiological and clinical evidence point to insulin resistance

as playing a learn more central role in the underlying molecular pathways. Inflammatory cytokines and growth factors elevated by TPCA-1 nmr insulin resistance are potential drivers of tumour blood vessel formation (angiogenesis). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate correlations between markers of obesity, insulin resistance, angiogenesis, tumour pathology and patient survival in colon cancer patients. Immunoassays were used to measure levels of adiponectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), C-peptide, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in colon cancer patient serum samples (n = 400). Levels of these markers were analysed together with clinicopathological parameters including

eltoprazine patient age, gender and tumour characteristics (from Cancer Society Tissue Bank, Christchurch), and Body Mass Index (BMI) and survival data obtained from medical records. In serum, levels of adiponectin were inversely correlated with patient BMI and IGF-1 protein levels (p < 0.0001). CRP levels were positively correlated with the levels of VEGF-A and Ang-2, tumour stage, size, depth, and necrosis (all p < 0.001). Levels of both VEGF-A and Ang-2 were also positively correlated with tumour size, depth and lymph/vascular invasion. In addition, VEGF-A levels were positively correlated with tumour stage, and Ang-2 protein levels with tumour necrosis (all p < 0.05). Preliminary analysis of survival data show better outcome for patients with serum adiponectin levels in the highest quartile, and worse outcome for patients with serum VEGF-A, Ang-2 (p < 0.05) and CRP (p < 0.05) levels in the top quartile.