Expression of the deleted in colorectal cancer gene is related to prognosis in DNA diploid and low proliferative colorectal adenocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Whether or not the deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) gene is implicated in metastases or in predicting prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer has not previously been substantiated. Our aims were to investigate DCC expression in primary colorectal cancers and in metastases to identify any prognostic significance.


METHODS
DCC expression was examined immunohistochemically in 195 primary colorectal adenocarcinomas and in 23 paired primary tumors and lymph node metastases. DNA content and S-phase fraction were measured by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The absence of DCC expression was observed in 55 primary tumors (28%). DCC negativity was significantly related to poor prognosis in patients with DNA diploid tumors (P =.03) and those with a low S-phase fraction (< 5%, P =.02) but not in patients with nondiploid tumors or those with a higher S-phase fraction. Furthermore, DCC expression retained its prognostic significance in the diploid subgroup after adjusting for sex, age, site, stage, growth pattern, and differentiation (P =.01). DCC expression was similar in primary tumors and their metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
The absence of DCC predicted a poor outcome in the patients with diploid tumors and those tumors with a low S-phase fraction. Immunohistochemistry may be considered as a practical test to assess prognosis in this subgroup of patients.
Sun
X F
XF
Divisions of Oncology and Cell Biology, Department of Biomedicine and Surgery, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. xisunonk@epost,liu.se
Rütten
S
S
Zhang
H
H
Nordenskjöld
B
B
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002455:Cell Division; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000075389:DCC Receptor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D004171:Diploidy; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D015996:Survival Rate; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000075389:DCC Receptor; C501909:DCC protein, human; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins