PLK3 is linked with higher tumor stage and unfavorable prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer.

Objective: This study intended to explore the relationship of PLK3 with prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: PLK3 positivity was detected by immunohistochemistry in 160 patients with CRC receiving surgical resection. Results: The median tumor PLK3-positive rate was 26.5%. Tumor PLK3-positive rate was related to increased lymph node stage (p = 0.002) and tumor-node-metastasis stage (p < 0.001) of CRC. Tumor PLK3-positive rate ≥30% was related to shortened disease-free survival (p = 0.009) and overall survival (p = 0.003); tumor PLK3-positive rate ≥50% showed a stronger correlation with them (both p = 0.001), which was validated by multivariate Cox regression analyses (both p < 0.05). Conclusion: Tumor PLK3-positive rate ≥50% relates to increased tumor stage and unfavorable survival in patients with CRC.