Reduced E-Cadherin Expression as a Cause of Distinctive Signet-Ring Cell Variant in Colorectal Carcinoma.
10.3346/jkms.2002.17.1.23
- Author:
Hee Cheol KIM
1
;
Ho Jeong KIM
;
Jin Cheon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. hckim@www.amc.seoul.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Colorectal Neoplasms;
Carcinoma, Signet-ring cell;
Cadherins;
beta-catenin
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Aged;
Cadherins/*biosynthesis;
Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell/*metabolism/pathology;
Colorectal Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology;
Cytoskeletal Proteins/biosynthesis;
Female;
Humans;
Immunohistochemistry/methods;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Retrospective Studies;
*Trans-Activators;
beta Catenin
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2002;17(1):23-28
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a rare type of adenocarcinoma and presents with distinctive clinicopathological features. This study was performed to assess the biological characteristics of colorectal SRCC regarding the E-cadherin expression. Seventeen patients with primary colorectal SRCC were identified and their clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. The mean age of the 17 patients was 45.3 yr (14-68). Immunohistochemical staining of E-cadherin and beta-catenin were performed in ten colorectal SRCCs and in 30 ordinary colorectal adenocarcinomas as control. Primary colorectal SRCC occurred in 0.7% of 2,388 colorectal adenocarcinomas. Most patients had advanced stage tumor at surgery (stage III and IV, AJCC: 82%). Five-year survival rate was 16%. Peritoneal seeding was the most common recurrence pattern (41%) and liver metastasis was not identified. All SRCCs showed a markedly reduced or absent expression of E-cadherin on immunohistochemical staining, whereas seven (23.3%) of ordinary carcinomas showed reduced expression, thereby indicating a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.005). In immunohistochemical staining for beta-catenin, eight of ten SRCCs showed reduced membrane expression that did not attain statistical significance compared to ordinary adenocarcinomas. It is suggested that aberrant E-cadherin expression may explain the distinct clinicopathological features in primary colorectal SRCC.
