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The effect of neoadjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer with simvastatin on the expression and activation of elements of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein pathway.

Completed
Conditions
colon cancer
colorectal adenocarcinoma
10017990
Registration Number
NL-OMON31290
Lead Sponsor
eids Universitair Medisch Centrum
Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Completed
Sex
Not specified
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria

>18 years
histologically confirmed colorectal cancer
Eligible for surgical resection

Exclusion Criteria

Current use of cholesterol lowering drugs or NSAIDs.

Study & Design

Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
<p>A tissue microarray (TMA) will be used to semi-quantify the protein expression<br /><br>levels in the resection specimens of treated and nontreated patients. The TMA<br /><br>will be analysed by immunohistochemistry for levels of BMP2 and 4, pSMAD1,<br /><br>SMAD4 and ID-2. We will also analyse markers of apoptosis (cleaved caspase 3)<br /><br>proliferation (Ki-67) and angiogenesis (VEGF and CD31). Staining will be scored<br /><br>in a semiquantitative fashion by 3 independent investigators with no patient<br /><br>information.<br /><br>Tumour samples taken before initiation of Simvastatin treatment will be<br /><br>compared to tumour samples taken after therapy. We will use<br /><br>immunohistochemistry for elements of the BMP pathway as well as Elisa (BMP2)<br /><br>and qRT-PCR using the frozen tissue where RNA and protein will be isolated from<br /><br>samples that consist of more that 70% tumour cells as analysed by frozen<br /><br>section. </p><br>
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
<p>Not applicable</p><br>
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