Expression And Significance Of Notch3、DLL1、CD133 In Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Tissues

Objective: To investigate the expression of Notch3,DLL1 and CD133 in human normal colorectal mucosa specimens,colorectal adenoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues and to explore the relationship between the expression of Notch3,DLL1 and CD133 and tumor occurrence,progression and clinical pathological features.Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was applied to detect the expression of Notch3,DLL1 and CD133 in 12 cases of normal colorectal mucosa tissues,30 cases of colorectal adenoma tissues and 50 cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues.Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation beyween their expression and clinicopathological features.Results: In human normal colorectal mucosa,colorectal adenoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma specimens,the positive staining rate of Notch3 was 8.3%(1/12),26.7%(8/30),64%(32/50),respectively;the positive rate of DLL1 was 16.7%(2/12),33.3%(10/30),68.0%(34/50),respectively and the positive rate of DLL1 was 8.3%(1/12),36.7%(11/30),54.0%(27/50),respectively.The positive expression rates of Notch3,DLL1 and CD133 were remarkably higher in colorectal adenocarcinoma than those in colorectal adenoma tissues and those in normal colorectal mucosa tissues(P<0.05),while there was no signifcant difference between adenoma group and normal group(P>0.05).The expression of Notch3,DLL1 and CD133 were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis(P<0.05),while there were no correlation with gender,age,tumor location,tumor size and the degree of differentiation.In addition,the stronger expression of Notch3 and DLL1 were coincident with the higher the Dukes stage(P<0.05).The higher expression of DLL1 was associated with deeper tumor infiltration(P<0.05).The expression of Notch3 protein was positively correlated with that of DLL1 protein(r=0.478,P<0.01).Meanwhile,there was no relationship between the rest of the indicators(P>0.05).Conclusion: 1.The expression levels of Notch3,DLL1 and CD133 in human normal colorectal mucosa specimens,colorectal adenoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues present an gradually increasing trend,which indicated that their high expression may be correlated with the occurrence and develop of colorectal cancer.2.The expression levels of Notch3 was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and Dukes stage,the expression levels of DLL1 was correlated with tumor infiltration depth and lymph node metastasis,and the expression levels of DLL1 was correlated with lymph node metastasis,which prompts that the above three indicators might be new tumor markers indicating the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.3.The expression of Notch3 in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues was positively correlated with that of DLL1.