Coexpression of carcinoembryonic antigen and E-cadherin in colorectal adenocarcinoma with liver metastasis.
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been suggested as a metastatic activator in colorectal carcinoma, whereas the E-cadherin expression is downregulated in a variety of carcinomas. CEA and E-cadherin expressions were simultaneously assessed with regard to tumor progression in the various sites of colorectal carcinomas with liver metastasis. Twenty-six consecutive patients who had colorectal carcinoma with liver metastasis underwent curative surgery for primary tumor and liver metastasis. CEA and E-cadherin expression were identified on immunohistochemical staining using the labeled streptavidin-biotin method. Their mRNA expression was also detected by RT in situ PCR using one-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). CEA and E-cadherin expression scores in the tumor center were greater than those in the tumor margin in both primary tumor and liver metastasis (P<0.001 to 0.006). CEA expression scores were closely associated with E-cadherin expression scores on the corresponding tumor site (P<0.001 to 0.017). CEA and E-cadherin mRNA expression was greatest in the hepatocytes adjacent to liver metastasis, next greatest in the primary tumor, and least in the liver metastasis (P<0.001 to 0.002). CEA mRNA expression was also closely correlated with E-cadherin mRNA expression in the primary tumor (P<0.001) and in the adjacent hepatocytes of the liver metastasis (P=0.018). Patients with a lesser CEA expression score in the liver metastasis margin appeared to have a longer disease-free survival period than did those with a greater CEA expression score. Expression of CEA and E-cadherin was closely correlated with the mRNA levels. Furthermore, these correlations may be implicated in the tumor progression of colorectal carcinoma considering their biological properties.
Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Seoul, South Korea. jckim@amc.seoul.kr
Jin C
JC
Kim
Seon A
SA
Roh
Hee C
HC
Kim
Kum H
KH
Koo
Young K
YK
Cho
Chang S
CS
Yu
Young M
YM
Kwon
Jung S
JS
Kim
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003082:Colectomy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D015820:Cadherins; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen