Expression of claudin-1, beta-catenin and E-cadherin in adenocarcinoma of the colon / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Disruption of the cell-to-cell junction with changes in the expression of the junctional proteins is the hallmark of cancer invasion and metastasis. To investigate the roles of claudin-1, beta-catenin and E-cadherin in adenocarcinoma of the colon, the relationship of their expression with clinical and pathological factors were examined. METHODS: The expression of claudin-1, beta-catenin and E-cadherin were examined in 47 cases of adenocarcinoma of the colon by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: A reduced claudin-1 expression was associated with advanced lymph node metastasis (p=0.019) and histological dedifferentiation at the invasive front (p=0.030). A reduced expression of beta-catenin and E-cadherin were correlated with histological dedifferentiation (p=0.012, p=0.010, respectively). The reduced expression of two or more proteins was correlated with the histological findings of dedifferentiation (p=0.030). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that loss of claudin-1, beta-catenin and E-cadherin expression may be correlated with the progression of adenocarcinoma of the colon and associated with an advanced histological grade.