| Clinical Significance of E-cadherin and beta-catenin Complex Expression in T2 Colorectal Cancer. |
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Kim, Jin Soo , Ko, Yong Taek , Hur, Hyuk , Min, Byung Soh , Kim, Nam Kyu , Sohn, Seung Kook , Cho, Chang Hwan , Ahn, Choong Bae , Kim, Hoguen |
1Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. namkyuk@yuhs.ac
2Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
3Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. |
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| Abstract |
PURPOSE
Expression of adhesion molecules is significantly correlated with the invasion and the metastasis of colorectal cancer. The aim of this study is to identify the importance of the expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin as a prognostic factor in T2 colorectal cancer.
METHODS
Forty-five cases of primary T2 colorectal cancers were selected between February 1997 and February 2000. We evaluated the membranous expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin by using immunohistochemisty and analyzed the relationship with various clinicopathologic parameters.
RESULTS
Loss of membranous E-cadherin was significantly associated with histologic differentiation (P=0.023), vascular invasion (P<0.001), lymphatic invasion (P<0.001), and lymph-node metastases (P=0.001). Similar patterns were observed in the expression of beta-catenin. The correlation between the E-cadherin and the beta-catenin expressions was statistically significant (P<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, neither the loss of expression of E-cadherin nor beta-catenin is a risk factor affecting lymph-node metastasis in T2 colorectal cancers. However, there were significant differences in the 5-year disease-free survival rates between the positive (+/-, +) and the negative (-) expression groups of E-cadherin and beta-catenin (P=0.015, 0.03).
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that loss of membranous expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin molecules correlates with poor prognostic factors and indicates invasion and metastasis in T2 colorectal cancer, which, therefore, might be predictive of short survival in these patients. |
| Key Words:
E-cadherin; beta-catenin; Colorectal cancer; Lymph-node metastasis |
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