Caspase-3 Activity Predicts Local Recurrence in Rectal Cancer

Abstract

Detection of tumor apoptosis levels by measuring caspase-3 activity, for which a preoperative biopsy can be used, accurately predicted local recurrence in rectal cancer patients. These findings indicate that caspase-3 activity is an important denominator of local recurrence and should be evaluated prospectively to be added to the criteria to select rectal cancer patients in which radiotherapy is redundant.