Cadherin-catenin expression in primary colorectal cancer: a survival analysis

Both cell adhesion and cell signalling events are mediated by components of the cadherin-catenin complex, Loss of expression of the components of this complex have been shown to correlate with invasive behaviour in many tumou r types although their exact role in colorectal cancer remains unclear. Imm unohistochemical analysis of the expression of components of the cadherin-c atenin complex in colorectal cancers from 60 patients was undertaken. Loss of memberanous expression of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin and beta-catenin was demonstrated in 52%, 85% and 40% of tumours respectively. Focal nuclear ex pression of beta-catenin (< 75% of cells per section), usually associated w ith cytoplasmic expression, was clearly demonstrated in 19 (32%) tumours wh ile widespread nuclear expression (> 75% of tumour cells per section) was s een in 11 (18%) tumours. Loss of membranous a-catenin expression significan tly correlated with tumour dedifferentiation (P = 0.009), There was a trend towards an association between advanced tumour stage and loss of membranou s expression of alpha-catenin or beta-catenin, although these associations were not statistically significant. Univariate analysis revealed that advan ced Dukes' stage, tumour de-differentiation, loss of membranous beta-cateni n expression, cytoplasmic beta-catenin expression and widespread nuclear ex pression of beta-catenin all correlated with short survival following appar ently curative resection of the primary tumour. However, only Dukes' stage (P = 0.002), tumour grade (P = 0.02) and widespread nuclear expression of b eta-catenin (P = 0.002) were independent predictors of short survival. Dist urbed growth signalling events in colorectal rumours are thought to result in nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin. Consequently, tumours with widespr ead nuclear expression of beta-catenin are likely to have severely abnormal growth characteristics, and which therefore might be predictive of short s urvival in these patients.