Midkine is up-regulated in both cancerous and inflamed bowel, reflecting lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer and clinical activity of ulcerative colitis
Midkine overexpression in colon and leukocytes accompanies regional metastasis in CRC. Midkine is overexpressed in inflamed bowel only in ulcerative colitis. Midkine expression in tumor-adjacent tissue is upregulated and depends on CRC stage. Serum midkine drops directly after surgery but its levels are restored on 3rd day.