title: Expression of adhesion molecules and epithelial-mesenchymal transition factors in medullary carcinoma of the colorectum.
abstract: Medullary carcinoma (MC) of the colorectum is known as a rare variant with favorable prognosis despite its poorly differentiated morphology. The mechanism of its favorable behavior has been unclear. Here, we compared the expressions of adhesion molecules and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins in the central portion and invasive front between 43 MCs and 30 poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas (PDAs). The expressions of membranous E-cadherin (P < .0001), β-catenin (P < .0001) and claudin 1 (P = .0036) were significantly preserved in the invasive front of the MCs compared to those in the invasive front of the PDAs. E-cadherin membranous expression was also significantly preserved in the central portion of the MCs (P = .0178). Nuclear β-catenin expression in both the central portion (P = .0463) and invasive front (P = .0346) of the MCs was significantly less frequent compared to that in the PDAs. Snail (P = .0035) and Twist1 (P = .0463) expressions in the invasive front of the MCs were significantly less frequent compared to the PDAs, suggesting that the EMT phenomenon may occur rarely in colorectal MC. Reduced membranous E-cadherin expression in the MC central portion was significantly correlated with poor clinical outcome (P = .0086). Our immunohistochemical results indicate that preserved adhesion molecule protein and less frequent expression of EMT-related transcription factors in the invasive front contribute to the favorable prognosis of colorectal MCs. We suggest that a reduced expression of E-cadherin in the central portion might be a good biomarker for an unfavorable prognosis in cases of MC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidetaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Minako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takizawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maehara
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryoichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takayanagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. Electronic address: oda@surgpath.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshinao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oda
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D053842:Microsatellite Instability; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules
keywords: Adhesion molecules; Colorectum; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Medullary carcinoma