| Invasion and metastasis of tumor cells are the primary causes of fataloutcome of cancer diseases. However, intercellular adhesion betweentumor cells might be an important factor in progression of cancer.E-cadherin is one of the most important cell adhesion molecules (CAMs).The function of E-cadherin depends on the formation of complexesbetween E-cadherin and catenin.Objective This study examined the expression of E-cadherin andγ-catenin complex in colorectal carcinoma. And we investigate therelationship between E-cadherin andγ-catenin complex and theclinicopathologic features. We also determine whether the expressionlevel of E-cadherin andγ-catenin complex correlates with the invasionand metastasis of human colorectal cancer.Materials and method 60 cases of tissues (including 40 cases ofcolorectal carcinoma tissues, 10 cases of colorectal adenoma tissues and10 cases of normal colorectal tissues)were examined, the clinicalpathologic parameters being observed including sex, age, Dukes stage,carcinoma location, metastasis (including lymphatic metastasis anddistant place metastasis), depth of infiltration, tumor diameter,differentiation. Immunohistochemical dicho-step method was used todetect the E-cadherin andγ-catenin and their significance, analysis theassociativity of them.Results 1. The expressive rates of E-cadherin: normal colorectaltissues＞colorectal adenoma tissues＞colorectal carcinoma tissues. Andthe differences of them have statistical significance (p＜0.05). Theexpressive rates ofγ-catenin: normal colorectal tissues> colorectaladenoma tissues and normal colorectal tissues> colorectal carcinomatissues, there are statistical significance between them (p＜0.05). However,the differences of the expressive rates between colorectal adenoma tissuesand colorectal carcinoma tissues have not statistical significance (p＞0.05).2. The expressive level of E-cadherin is closely related with Dukes stage,metastasis (including lymphatic metastasis and distant place metastasis), depth of infiltration, differentiation. The differences of them havestatistical significance (p＜0.05). While the expression isn't correlatedwith the patient's sex, age, carcinoma location, tumor diameter (p＞0.05).3. The expressive level ofγ-catenin isn't correlated with the patient's sex,age, carcinoma location, tumor diameter, Dukes stage, depth ofinfiltration and differentiation (p＞0.05). However the expression isclosely related with lymphatic metastasis and distant place metastasis(p＜0.05). 4. The expression of the E-cadherin andγ-catenin both decreasein colorectal carcinoma tissues, but the analysis of the associativity showsthere is no statistically significance to be found (p＞0.05).Conclusion Our study indicate that the expressive level ofE-cadherin is related with Dukes stage, metastasis (including lymphaticmetastasis and distant place metastasis), depth of infiltration,differentiation. And the expression ofγ-catenin is related with lymphaticmetastasis and distant place metastasis. Detecting their expression mightbe useful prognostic indicators and give a theoretical help in the therapyof colorectal carcinoma. |
