EXPRESSION OF CRIPTO-1 IN NONPOLYPOID ADENOMAS AND CARCINOMAS OF THE HUMAN COLON

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-related peptides have been implicated in the pathogenesis of colon cancer. The purpose of this study was to ev aluate the frequency of expression of a novel EGF-related peptide, cri pto-1 (CR-1) in nonpolypoid and polypoid colon adenomas and carcinomas . Methods: CR-1 was assessed by immunocytochemistry in colon specimens . Results: Twenty-six of 36 (72.2%) nonpolypoid, flat adenomas versus 21 of 46 (45.6%) polypoid adenoma samples were positive for CR-1 expre ssion. In the carcinomas, 18 of 23 (78.2%) nonpolypoid growth carcinom as (NPG-carcinomas) and 30 of 41 (73.1%) polypoid growth carcinomas (P G-carcinomas) were positive for CR-1 expression. Only 6 of 102 (5.9%) noninvolved colon mucosa samples exhibited CR-1 expression. In adenoma s with a moderate degree of atypia, CR-1 was expressed at a significan tly higher frequency in flat, nonpolypoid adenomas than in correspondi ng polypoid adenomas (p < 0.05). Finally, CR-1 was expressed at a sign ificantly higher frequency in nonpolypoid lesions that were less than 10 mm than in polypoid lesions of the same size (p < 0.05-.01). Conclu sions: These data demonstrate that CR-1 may be involved in the early s tages of colon cancer development especially from flat, nonpolypoid ad enomas.