Expressions and Implications of β-Catenin and E-Cadherin in Colorectal Carcinoma

Background: Colorectal carcinoma is one of the common gastrointestinal malignant tumors in our country. It has been demonstrated that changes of β-catenin and its related genes as well as adhesion molecule cadherins play important roles in the development and progression of colorectal carcinoma. Aims: To investigate the relevance of expressions of β-catenin, E-cadherin, and the biological behavior of colorectal carcinoma, as well as their possibility of being taken as prognostic markers. Methods: Immunohistochemical studies of β-catenin and E-cadherin expressions were conducted in 60 colorectal carcinoma specimens, 60 corresponding paracancerous tissues and 24 metastatic lymph node specimens. The patients were followed-up postoperatively for the survival rate. Results: The proportions of abnormal expressions of β-catenin and E-cadherin in colorectal cancerous tissues were significantly higher than those in the corresponding paracancerous tissues, and the abnormality rates increased with decreased degree of tumor differentiation and increased Dukes staging. Concordantly, the postoperative two-year survival rate in those with abnormal expression of β-catenin and E-cadherin were much lower than those with normal expression (P0.05). Conclusions: Abnormal expression of β-catenin and E-cadherin can be promising markers for predicting presence of invasion and metastasis and can be prognostic predictors of colorectal carcinoma.