Decreased expression of CD44, alpha-catenin, and deleted colon carcinoma and altered expression of beta-catenin in ulcerative colitis-associated dysplasia and carcinoma, as compared with sporadic colon neoplasms.
BACKGROUND
To clarify the cell adhesion status in ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated colon neoplasm, expression of cell adhesion molecules were investigated and compared with that of sporadic colon neoplasm.


METHODS
A total of 14 low grade dysplasias, 16 high grade dysplasias, and 8 adenocarcinomas associated with UC and 17 sporadic adenomas with mild to moderate dysplasia, 22 adenomas with severe dysplasia, and 15 invasive adenocarcinomas were immunohistochemically examined using monoclonal antibodies against CD44, E-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenin, and deleted colon carcinoma (DCC).


RESULTS
CD44, especially its standard form, and DCC expression was stronger in the sporadic colon neoplasms than in the UC-associated lesions. Although E-cadherin did not show significant differences between the two cases, alpha-catenin was more expressed in sporadic colon adenomas with severe dysplasia and carcinomas than in their UC-associated counterparts. Membranous beta-catenin staining was stronger in UC-associated neoplasms, whereas sporadic lesions had greater cytoplasmic and nuclear expression.


CONCLUSIONS
The differences in cell adhesion molecule expression suggests that UC-associated and sporadic colon neoplasms arise from different pathways of tumorigenesis.
Mikami
T
T
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.
Mitomi
H
H
Hara
A
A
Yanagisawa
N
N
Yoshida
T
T
Tsuruta
O
O
Okayasu
I
I
D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin
C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin