title: Loss of E-cadherin independently predicts the lymph node status in colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The identification of biomarkers that improve risk stratification in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is still a challenge. The objective of our study was to identify independent protein markers as predictors of lymph node (N) stage in CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumour specimens from 221 CRC patients were mounted onto a multiple-punch tissue microarray and evaluated for 21 tumour related factors and one host related factor involved in CRC carcinogenesis, namely β-catenin, E-cadherin, EGFR, pERK, RHAMM, pAKT, pSMAD2, p21, p16, Bcl-2, Ki-67, APAF-1, MST1, RKIP, VEGF, EphB2, MMP7, Laminin5γ2, MUC1, CDX2, caspase-3 as well as intra-tumoural and stromal CD8+ tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (iTILs and sTILs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Node positive cancers showed significant losses for p21 (p = 0.026), Bcl-2 (p = 0.027), APAF-1 (p = 0.033), EphB2 (p = 0.006), E-cadherin (p < 0.001), RKIP (p = 0.019), CD8+ iTILs and sTILs (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively) and cytoplasmic MST1 (p = 0.014). Based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) EphB2, E-cadherin, iTILs and sTILs were identified as potential predictors of N stage (AUC values >0.6), but only loss of E-cadherin was an independent predictor in multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  E-cadherin appears to be a strong predictor of N stage in CRC and should be considered in pre-operative and post-operative management of colon and rectal cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Athens, Greece. ekaramit@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karamitopoulou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zlobec
authors.forename: Es
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patsouris
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peros
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lugli
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins