Nuclear beta-catenin expression is rare and its potential association with short survival in colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma.
Colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a rare cancer and the prognosis is usually very poor. The biologic pathways involved in its oncogenesis are unknown. beta-catenin, a key target in the Wnt-signaling pathway, is recognized to play an important role in the carcinogenesis in conventional colorectal carcinoma. This study explores the involvement of Wnt-signaling molecules beta-catenin and cyclin D1, cell cycle regulators cyclin D3, proliferative index Ki-67, apoptotic index, and angiogenic indicator CD31 in 20 colorectal SRCC paraffin-embedded specimens. Results showed that there were 2 specimens with nuclear beta-catenin and higher expression of cyclin D1 than the remaining 18 specimens. Surprisingly, those 2 patients had a much shorter survival of 6 months than the remaining 15 patients, who had around 24 months. Moreover, all colorectal SRCC specimens had an overexpression of cyclin D1, cyclin D3, and Ki-67, as well as much more angiogenesis and apoptosis than adjacent normal epithelial tissues. The authors make the preliminary comment that nuclear beta-catenin is a rare phenomenon in colorectal SRCC, but the involvement of it may indicate a worse prognosis with shorter survival than colorectal SRCC without nuclear beta-catenin expression. Besides, overexpression of cyclin D1, cyclin D3, Ki-67, and increased angiogenesis and apoptosis may play a vital role in promoting colorectal SRCC development.
Wong
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Department of Clinical Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. cesar01@netvigator.com
Chan
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D017209:Apoptosis; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000032:analysis; D056743:Cyclin D3; D016213:Cyclins / Q000032:analysis; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
C534696:CCND3 protein, human; D056743:Cyclin D3; D016213:Cyclins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019938:Cyclin D1