Positive Relationship between L-type Amino Acid Transporter 1 Expression and Liver Metastasis in T3 Colorectal Cancer

抄録

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) expression in colorectal cancer with invasion to the subserosal layer (T3), its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics, and its potential metastatic significance. LAT1 expression was measured by immunohistochemistry in tumors from 65 patients with primary colorectal carcinomas. LAT1 expression was deemed positive when more than 10% of the tumor cells showed distinct membranous immunoreactivity. Positive LAT1 expression was demonstrated in 29.2% (19 of 65) of primary tumors. LAT1 expression showed no significant relationship with clinicopathological characteristics, such as age, gender, tumor location, tumor size, macroscopic/microscopic classification, or lymph node metastasis. However, LAT1 expression showed a positive relationship with liver metastasis (P < 0.05). LAT1 expression in cancer cells may be a good marker for predicting potential metastasis to the liver in colorectal cancer.