Dedifferentiation and decreased expression of adhesion molecules, E-cadherin and ZO-1, in colorectal cancer are closely related to liver metastasis.
Carcinoma cells with high metastatic potential often show a dedifferentiated phenotype at the primary site. In this study, a total of 48 cases (24 primary tumors of colorectal cancer (Pr-CRC) with liver metastasis, 24 without) were examined for E-cadherin and ZO-1 expression by immunohistochemical staining, and for their dedifferentiated phenotype. The expression levels of E-cadherin and ZO-1 were markedly decreased in the cancer cells of tumors with liver metastasis. Moreover, dedifferentiation of cancer cells, which was evaluated by the modified Gleason score, was also related to liver metastasis. However, none of the conventional clinicopathologic parameters of invasion, except lymph node metastasis, showed any relationship with liver metastasis. These results indicate that dedifferentiation and a decreased expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1 are closely related to liver metastasis.
Dept. of Surgical and Molecular Pathology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan.
T
T
Kaihara
T
T
Kusaka
M
M
Nishi
H
H
Kawamata
J
J
Imura
K
K
Kitajima
R
R
Itoh-Minami
N
N
Aoyama
M
M
Kasuga
Y
Y
Oda
M
M
Hattori
T
T
Fujimori
D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C569042:TJP1 protein, human; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein