FIGURE 6.

PDK4 expression and Smad2 phosphorylation positively correlate with chemoresistance in colorectal cancer specimens. IHC staining of PDK4 and p-Smad2 was performed in sections prepared from eight moderately and 10 non- or poorly responding colorectal tumors. A, representative images of IHC staining of PDK4 and p-Smad2 in each group. Scale bars = 100 μm. B, quantification of the staining intensity of PDK4 and p-Smad2 was performed. Error bars indicate S.E. of the values in each group. ***, p < 0.001. C, correlation of PDK4 expression and pSmad2 was determined using Pearson's test (r = 0.8545; ***, p < 0.001). The slope was generated by lineage regression analysis.