Overexpression of a novel superoxide-producing enzyme, NADPH oxidase 1, in adenoma and well differentiated adenocarcinoma of the human colon.

A superoxide-producing enzyme, NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1), dominantly expressed in the colon, is implicated in the pathogenesis of colon cancer. Immunohistochemistry showed that Nox1 was constitutively expressed in surface mucous cells. Adenomas and well differentiated adenocarcinomas up-regulated Nox1 expression. Ki-67-negative, well differentiated tumor cells contained abundant Nox1, whereas Ki-67-positive, proliferating cells did not express it. This differentiation-dependent expression in normal as well as tumor tissues suggests distinct roles of Nox1 besides mitogenic function. Nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB was predominantly activated in adenoma and adenocarcinoma cells expressing abundant Nox1, suggesting that Nox1 may stimulate NF-kappaB-dependent antiapoptotic pathways in colon tumors.