The family of S100 proteins represents 25 relatively small (9-13 kD) calcium binding proteins. These proteins possess a broad spectrum of important intracellular and extracellular functions. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men (after lung and prostate cancer) and the second most frequent cancer in women (after breast cancer) worldwide. S100 proteins are involved in the colorectal carcinogenesis through different mechanisms: they enable proliferation, invasion, and migration of the tumour cells; furthermore, S100 proteins increase angiogenesis and activate NF-κβ signaling pathway, which plays a key role in the molecular pathogenesis especially of colitis-associated carcinoma. The expression of S100 proteins in the cancerous tissue and serum levels of S100 proteins might be used as a precise diagnostic and prognostic marker in patients with suspected or already diagnosed colorectal neoplasia. Possibly, in the future, S100 proteins will be a therapeutic target for tailored anticancer therapy.

2nd Department of Internal Medicine Gastroenterology Charles University in Praha Faculty of Medicine at Hradec Kralove University Teaching Hospital Sokolska 581 500 05 Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

2nd Department of Internal Medicine Gastroenterology Charles University in Praha Faculty of Medicine at Hradec Kralove University Teaching Hospital Sokolska 581 500 05 Hradec Kralove Czech Republic; Division of Surgery and Interventional Science University College London 67 73 Riding House Street London W1W 7EJ UK

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Tissue mRNA for S100A4, S100A6, S100A8, S100A9, S100A11 and S100P Proteins in Colorectal Neoplasia: A Pilot Study