title: Expression of Smad4, E-cadherin and beta-catenin in advanced colorectal cancer: a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To correlate the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin with alterations of expression of Smad4 in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue specimens from 75 colorectal cancer cases (Dukes stage C and D) were tested for Smad4, E-cadherin and beta-catenin by the Avidin-Biotin immunoperoxidase method. The results were correlated with patients' clinicopathological parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smad4 expression was lost or reduced in roughly 1 out of every 3 Dukes C and D CRCs. Association of Smad4 expression with other clinicopathological parameters was not noted. Association of expression of E-cadherin with other clinicopathological parameters was not noted, apart from tumor location. Expression of beta-catenin was not associated with clinicopathological parameters. Lack of expression of Smad4 was associated with lack of expression of both E-cadherin (<0.000) and beta-catenin (p<0.000). As regards the relation between E-cadherin and beta-catenin, the expression of each seemed to parallel the expression of the other (p<0.000). Beta-catenin was overexpressed in 68.5% of the specimens studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinically advanced CRC is associated with a reduced or complete lack of expression of Smad4. Ecadherin and beta-catenin are expressed in parallel with each other and also with Smad4. This tumor suppressor role of Smad4 by affecting both E-cadherin and beta-catenin may indicate a novel pathway for metastatic tumor via cellular reshaping. The precise underlined mechanism(s) and the clinical significance of these findings remain to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diab
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nikolopoulou-Stamati
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katostaras
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safioleas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kostakis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Athanassiadou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liossi-Ioakeim
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marinos
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konstantopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D051176:beta Catenin