Expression of Adhesion Molecules as a Novel Risk Factor for Lymph Node Metastasis or Local Recurrence in Early Invasive (T1) Colorectal Carcinomas

Abstract

To elucidate objective and useful risk factors for lymph node metastasis or local recurrence (locore-gional failure; LRF) in early invasive (T1) colorectal carcinomas, 51 lesions were immunostained using anti-E-cadherin, a-catenin, β-catenin, CD44 variant 6, MMP-7, and laminin-5 y2 chain antibodies, and associations between LRF and clinicopathologic factors were examined statistically. Univariate analysis revealed histol-ogy (p=0.02), budding (0.004), β-catenin (nuclear pattern) (p=0.01), and laminin-5 γ2 chain expression (p=0.001) were significantly associated with LRF. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Β-catenin (nuclear pattern) (p=0.029) and laminin-5 γ2 chain expression (p=0.002) were independently and significantly associated with LRF. All four cases with LRF were positive for these two antibodies, and sensi-tivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of these two factors were 100%, 91%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. Immunostaining of β-catenin and laminin-5 γ2 chain may be useful to determine addi-tional surgery after local treatment of TI colorectal carcinomas.