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.
Kim
Jin C
JC
Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Seoul, South Korea. jckim@amc.seoul.kr
Roh
Seon A
SA
Kim
Hee C
HC
Koo
Kum H
KH
Cho
Young K
YK
Yu
Chang S
CS
Kwon
Young M
YM
Kim
Jung S
JS
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