Expression of β-catenin and E-cadherin and their significance in colorectal carcinoma

Objective To investigate the role of β catenin and E cadherin in the carcinogenesis and progression of colorectal carcinoma.Methods Expression of β catenin and E cadherin was examined immunohistochemically in 25 cases of normal colonic mucosa,42 cases of colorectal adenoma,19 cases of colorectal adenoma canceration and 58 cases of colorectal carcinoma.Results In normal colonic mucosa,β catenin and E cadherin were detected in the cell membranes of epithelial cells.Reduced membranous expression,cytoplasmic and nuclear expression were found in the colorectal adenoma,adenoma canceration and carcinoma tissues.The cytoplasmic and nuclear β catenin expression rate was 89 5% in colorectal adenoma canceration,which was significantly higher than that in colorectal adenoma (42 9%) and carcinoma (65 5%).Statistic analysis showed that the cytoplasmic and nuclear β catenin expression rate was associated with cell differentiation,lymph node metastasis and Dukes staging in colorectal carcinoma.The reduced membranous β catenin and E cadherin expression rates were 77 6% and 70 7% respectively in colorectal carcinoma,and both the rates were significantly higher than those in colorectal adenoma (33 3%,28 6%) and adenoma canceration (42 1%,36 8%).The reduced membranous β catenin and E cadherin expression was closely related with lymph node metastasis and Dukes staging in colorectal carcinoma.Conclusion The cytoplasmic and nuclear β catenin expression might play a pivotal role in the carcinogenesis and progression of colorectal carcinoma.The reduced membranous β catenin and E cadherin expression might be related to the invasion and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma.