Expression of Smad4 and TGF-beta2 in colorectal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
TGF-beta, a potent natural antiproliferative agent, is believed to play an important role in suppressing tumorigenicity. This effect is mediated through Smad4, a tumour-suppressor gene, at chromosome 18q21, which affects gene transcription and controls cell growth. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of Smad4 and TGF-beta2 in colorectal carcinomas and to correlate them with pathological parameters and patient survival.


METHODS
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from 49 cases of colon carcinoma was stained by immunohistochemistry for TGF-beta2 and Smad4 protein.


RESULTS
Smad4 nuclear and cytoplasmic staining was absent in 9/49 (18.3%) or reduced in 18/49 (36. 7%) colorectal carcinoma, while in the remaining 22 (44.8%) Smad4 expression comparable with colonic mucosa was observed. TGF-P2 cytoplasmic staining was expressed in all cases and was overexpressed in 24/49 (48.9%) carcinoma. A statistically significant correlation was found between Smad4 expression and tumour grade (p =0.02) and between TGF-beta2 expression and Dukes' stage (p=0.03). A slight tendency for a relationship between Smad4 and TGF-beta2 (p=0.25) was also observed. No statistically significant relationship between the above markers and survival was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
In poorly-differentiated carcinoma, Smad4 protein expression was retained and may be linked to TGF-beta2 overexpression, due to the activation or deregulation of the TGF-fl signalling pathway. Inactivation of the TGF-beta gene occurs at an early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis, while inactivation of Smad4 is probably a late event.
Kouvidou
Ch
Ch
Departments of Pathology, Elpis Hospital, Athens, Greece. Tsimtsilisy@Unisystems.gr
Latoufis
C
C
Lianou
E
E
Kouvatseas
G
G
Kakouri
E
E
Anagnostakis
D
D
Vrettou-Aravani
V
V
Betsi
E
E
Karatapanis
S
S
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2
C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051901:Smad4 Protein; C509041:TGFB2 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2