Significance Of Fascin Expression In Colorectal Adenoma And Carcinoma

Objective Fascin, a structurally unique and evolutionarily conserved actin-bunding protein that is found in membrane ruffles, microspikes, and stress fiber, induces membrane protrusions and increases cell motility in various transformed cells. The expression of fascin in epithelial neoplasms has been described only recently, and very few data are available on the role of this protein in colorectal carcinoma. For this purpose, the significance of fascin protein expression in colorectal adenoma and carcinoma was studied immunohistochemically. Methods 41 cases of colorectal carcinoma, 38 cases of colorectal adenoma and 20 cases of normal tissues were immunohistochemically investigated using monoclonal antifascin antibody. Staining more than 5% of tumor cells was recorded as positive immunoreactivity. Results Overall, fascin immunoreactivity was detected in 17 out of 41 cases of colorectal carcinoma (41.5%), 9 cases were classified as low grade positive, 5 cases were intermediate grade positive, and 3 cases were low grade positive. Increase immunostaining of fascin was seen likely in the high grade carcinoma. Fascin expression was correlated with serosal invasion (p=0.005), histopathological grading (p=0.002), TNM stage (p=0.011), positive lymph node metastasis (p=0.011), P53 expression (p=0.047) and Ki-67 expression (p=0.034). but not correlated with age (p=0.412), gender (p=0.326) and histological classification (p=0.540). Fascin immunoreactivity was detected in 4 out of 17 cases of lymph node metastasis (23.5%) , and 3 cases were classified as high grade positive, 1 cases were intermediate grade positive. Fascin expression was only seen in 3 out of 27 cases of intermediate and high grade dysplasia adenoma(11.1%), and the immunostaining was focal and weak. Fascin immunoreactivity was not detected in 11 cases of low grade dysplasia adenoma and normal tissues. Conclusion In the multistep pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma, fascin expression seems to be a late event, usually present in carcinoma, and correlated with invasion and metastasis of carcinoma. Targetting the fascin pathway could be a novel therapeutic strategy of colorectal carcinoma.