E-Cadherin Expression Varies Depending on the Location within the Primary Tumor and Is Higher in Colorectal Cancer with Lymphoid Follicles
Reliable indicators of cancer advancement have actively been sought recently. The detection of colorectal cancer progression markers is essential in improving diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. The aim of the study was to investigate the profile of E-cadherin expression in colorectal cancer tissu...
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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author | Adam R. Markowski Konstancja Ustymowicz Anna J. Markowska Wiktoria Romańczyk Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz |
author_facet | Adam R. Markowski Konstancja Ustymowicz Anna J. Markowska Wiktoria Romańczyk Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz |
author_sort | Adam R. Markowski |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Reliable indicators of cancer advancement have actively been sought recently. The detection of colorectal cancer progression markers is essential in improving diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. The aim of the study was to investigate the profile of E-cadherin expression in colorectal cancer tissue depending on the TNM staging and its correlation with several clinical and histopathological features. The study included 55 colorectal cancer patients admitted to the surgical ward for elective surgery. Tissue samples were obtained from resected specimens. Different distributions of E-cadherin expression within tumors were observed; the highest percentage of positive E-cadherin expression was found in the invasive front and in the tumor center. Additionally, the different cellular distribution of E-cadherin expression was noticed; weak membranous E-cadherin expression was the highest in the invasive front and in the budding sites, but a strong membranous pattern was most frequent in the tumor center. Various distributions of E-cadherin expression depending on cancer progression were also found; E-cadherin expression in node-positive patients was lower in the tumor center and in the tumor invasive front, whereas, in patients with distant metastases, the expression of E-Cadherin was lower in the budding sites. In patients with higher TNM stages, E-cadherin expression was lower within the tumor (in the budding sites, tumor center, and invasive front). In tumors with lymphoid follicles, E-cadherin expression was higher in all localizations within the primary tumor. E-cadherin expression in the tumor center was also lower in tumors with some higher tumor budding parameters (areas of poorly differentiated components and poorly differentiated clusters). E-cadherin expression was found to be lower at the tumor center in younger individuals, at the budding sites in men, and at the surrounding lymph nodes in rectal tumors. Low E-cadherin expression appears to be a reliable indicator of higher cancer staging and progression. When assessing the advancement of cancer, apart from the TNM classification, it is beneficial to also consider the expression of E-cadherin. High tumor budding, the poverty of lymphoid follicles, and low E-cadherin expression analyzed simultaneously may contribute to a reliable assessment of colorectal cancer staging. These three histopathological features complement each other, and their investigation, together with conventional tumor staging and grading, may be very helpful in predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients and qualifying them for the best treatment. The role of E-cadherin in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, as a part of a personalized medicine strategy, still requires comprehensive, prospective clinical evaluations to precisely target the optimal therapies for the right patients at the right time. |
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institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2072-6694 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:23:27Z |
publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
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spelling | doaj.art-598348f028dd4ffe9de23b0d46b968b22023-12-03T15:05:56ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942023-06-011512326010.3390/cancers15123260E-Cadherin Expression Varies Depending on the Location within the Primary Tumor and Is Higher in Colorectal Cancer with Lymphoid FolliclesAdam R. Markowski0Konstancja Ustymowicz1Anna J. Markowska2Wiktoria Romańczyk3Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz4Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Polish Red Cross Memorial Municipal Hospital, 79 Henryka Sienkiewicza Street, 15-003 Bialystok, PolandMedical University of Warsaw, 61 Żwirki i Wigury Street, 02-091 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Polish Red Cross Memorial Municipal Hospital, 79 Henryka Sienkiewicza Street, 15-003 Bialystok, PolandDepartment of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 13 Jerzego Waszyngtona Street, 15-269 Bialystok, PolandDepartment of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 13 Jerzego Waszyngtona Street, 15-269 Bialystok, PolandReliable indicators of cancer advancement have actively been sought recently. The detection of colorectal cancer progression markers is essential in improving diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. The aim of the study was to investigate the profile of E-cadherin expression in colorectal cancer tissue depending on the TNM staging and its correlation with several clinical and histopathological features. The study included 55 colorectal cancer patients admitted to the surgical ward for elective surgery. Tissue samples were obtained from resected specimens. Different distributions of E-cadherin expression within tumors were observed; the highest percentage of positive E-cadherin expression was found in the invasive front and in the tumor center. Additionally, the different cellular distribution of E-cadherin expression was noticed; weak membranous E-cadherin expression was the highest in the invasive front and in the budding sites, but a strong membranous pattern was most frequent in the tumor center. Various distributions of E-cadherin expression depending on cancer progression were also found; E-cadherin expression in node-positive patients was lower in the tumor center and in the tumor invasive front, whereas, in patients with distant metastases, the expression of E-Cadherin was lower in the budding sites. In patients with higher TNM stages, E-cadherin expression was lower within the tumor (in the budding sites, tumor center, and invasive front). In tumors with lymphoid follicles, E-cadherin expression was higher in all localizations within the primary tumor. E-cadherin expression in the tumor center was also lower in tumors with some higher tumor budding parameters (areas of poorly differentiated components and poorly differentiated clusters). E-cadherin expression was found to be lower at the tumor center in younger individuals, at the budding sites in men, and at the surrounding lymph nodes in rectal tumors. Low E-cadherin expression appears to be a reliable indicator of higher cancer staging and progression. When assessing the advancement of cancer, apart from the TNM classification, it is beneficial to also consider the expression of E-cadherin. High tumor budding, the poverty of lymphoid follicles, and low E-cadherin expression analyzed simultaneously may contribute to a reliable assessment of colorectal cancer staging. These three histopathological features complement each other, and their investigation, together with conventional tumor staging and grading, may be very helpful in predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients and qualifying them for the best treatment. The role of E-cadherin in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, as a part of a personalized medicine strategy, still requires comprehensive, prospective clinical evaluations to precisely target the optimal therapies for the right patients at the right time.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/12/3260cancer advancementintratumoral heterogeneitytumor microenvironmenttumor buddingbiomarkerspersonalized medicine |
spellingShingle | Adam R. Markowski Konstancja Ustymowicz Anna J. Markowska Wiktoria Romańczyk Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz E-Cadherin Expression Varies Depending on the Location within the Primary Tumor and Is Higher in Colorectal Cancer with Lymphoid Follicles Cancers cancer advancement intratumoral heterogeneity tumor microenvironment tumor budding biomarkers personalized medicine |
title | E-Cadherin Expression Varies Depending on the Location within the Primary Tumor and Is Higher in Colorectal Cancer with Lymphoid Follicles |
title_full | E-Cadherin Expression Varies Depending on the Location within the Primary Tumor and Is Higher in Colorectal Cancer with Lymphoid Follicles |
title_fullStr | E-Cadherin Expression Varies Depending on the Location within the Primary Tumor and Is Higher in Colorectal Cancer with Lymphoid Follicles |
title_full_unstemmed | E-Cadherin Expression Varies Depending on the Location within the Primary Tumor and Is Higher in Colorectal Cancer with Lymphoid Follicles |
title_short | E-Cadherin Expression Varies Depending on the Location within the Primary Tumor and Is Higher in Colorectal Cancer with Lymphoid Follicles |
title_sort | e cadherin expression varies depending on the location within the primary tumor and is higher in colorectal cancer with lymphoid follicles |
topic | cancer advancement intratumoral heterogeneity tumor microenvironment tumor budding biomarkers personalized medicine |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/12/3260 |
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