EXPRESSION OF HORMONE RECEPTORS, CATHEPSIN-D, AND HER-2 NEU ONCOPROTEIN IN NORMAL COLON AND COLONIC DISEASE/

Background: Chronic ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polypo sis are associated with an increased risk of colorectal carcinoma. Cur rently, there are no reliable methods to assess carcinoma risk. Method s: Several prognostic factors known to be useful in breast carcinoma w ere determined in 102 specimens of colonic mucosa from 38 patients: 22 specimens from ''normal,'' non-neoplastic colon, 49 from chronic ulce rative colitis, 10 from Crohn's colitis, 14 from familial adenomatous polyposis, four from mucosa adjacent to carcinoma, and three from colo n carcinoma. Expression of estrogen receptor, progestin receptor, epid ermal growth factor receptor, HER-2/neu (c-erb B-2) oncoprotein, and c athepsin D were determined. Results: Epidermal growth factor receptor expression was higher in chronic ulcerative colitis, Crohn's colitis, familial adenomatous polyposis, and colon carcinoma and varied with lo cation within the colon for chronic ulcerative colitis, Crohn's coliti s, and familial adenomatous polyposis. Epidermal growth factor recepto r expression in mucosa adjacent to carcinoma was similar to that in '' normal'' colon. Conclusion: Further analyses are needed to determine w hich parameters are related to and possibly predictive of increased ca rcinoma risk.