Abstract
AIM: To investigate the relationship between beta-catenin and E-cadherin tissue quantitative expression (content) in tumors and clinical prognostic factors in patients with left colon cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty nine patients with colon adenocarcinoma located distal to the splenic flexure were studied. Diagnosis and histological variables related to adenocarcinoma prognosis were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin. Beta-catenin and E-cadherin were analysed by immunohistochemistry with specific anti-beta-catenin and anti-E-cadherin monoclonal antibodies. Tissue quantitative expression (content) was determined by computer assisted image analysis method. Results were analysed with statistical tests, adopting a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: There are correlations between beta-catenin and TNM stage (p< 0.01). There are progressively greater amounts of beta-catenin in patients with deeper invasion of the tumor in colon layers (p=0.03), progressive lymph node involvement (p=0.05), as well as in patients with distant metastasis (p=0.04). Worse histological grades are related to lower expression of E-cadherin in tumor tissue (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: E-cadherin can be used as an indicator of tumor differentiation degree, whereas beta-catenin can be used as a predictor of invasion depth and spread of distal colorectal cancer.