The Expression Of β-catenin, E-cadherin In Colorectal Cancer And Its Clinical Significance

objective: The aim of this study was to examine the expression of 3 -catenin and E-cadherin in cololrectal cancer and examine its correlation with clinicopathological feature and prognosis. Methods: The expression of 3 -cat and E-cad was determined by immunohistochemical analysis from paraffin speamens of 60 colorectal cancers. 20 case of colorectal adenomas and 20 case of normal colorectal tissues was conducted as contrast group. Result: The membranous expression of 3 -cat 65%(39/60) was significanlly lower than that of colorectal adenomas 90%(18/ 20) and normal colorectal tissues 100%(20/20). Nuclear expression of 3 -catenin was found in 59% of colorectal cancer and 30% of colorectal and 0% of nomal colorectal tissues. The membranous expression of & -cat was closely associated with poor differentiation and lymph-node metastasis (p<0.01). No statisically significant differences was observed regandily with 3 -cat and age,sex, invasivenees.The reduced expression of E-cad in colorectal cacinomal(48.3%)was significat higher than that of benign tissues(15% )and normal colorectal tissues.(0%) There was significally difference in reduced expression of E-cad with lymph-node metastasis and dedifferentiation. A inverse correlation between E-cad immunoreactivity and 3 -cat in colorectal cacinoma could be verified conclusion. Reduced membranous expression of 3 -catenin was associated with short survival, conclusion: E-cad/ 3 -cat complex may have play an importmant role incolorectal tumor progress and invase. There world be served as biological marker of invasion and metastasis of colorectal cacinomca.