Expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule and its correlation with β-catenin and its clinical prognostic significance in colorectal cancer

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM),and its correlation with β-catenin in colorectal cancer.Methods Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the EpCAM expression in 120 cases of colorectal cancer and 30 cases of normal colorectal tissues,and meanwhile detect the β-catenin expression in 120 cases of colorectal cancer tissues.The results combined with clinicopathological features and follow-up data were analyzed statistically.Results The rate of high EpCAM expression in colorectal carcinoma tissue (60.8％) was obviously higher than that in normal colorectal tissue (6.7％,P ＜ 0.01).The expression of EpCAM in colorectal carcinoma tissue was associated with TMN stages,lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis and recurrence (P ＜ 0.05).The rate of high β-catenin expression in colorectal carcinoma tissue was 70％,and significantly correlated with the expression of EpCAM (r =0.518,P ＜ 0.01).Survival analysis showed that the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer was associated with EpCAM expression,lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis and recurrence (P ＜ 0.05).Multiple factor analysis showed that EpCAM,TNM stages and lymph node metastasis could be used as independent prognostic factors for colorectal cancer patients.Conclusion The EpCAM expression has a significantly positive correlation with the β-catenin expression in colorectal cancer. Key words: Colorectal cancer; Epithelial cell adhesion molecule; β-catenin