CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF E-CADHERIN AND KAI-1/CD82 EXPRESSION IN COLORECTAL CANCER
The prognosis of one of the most commonly occurring malignancies worldwide – colorectal cancer (CRC) – depends on the development
of disease recurrence and distant metastases, most frequently detected in the liver. The aim of our research was to study the association of
adhesive molecule E-cadherin and tumor suppressor protein KAI-1/CD82 expression with clinical and morphological parameters in groups of
patients with CRC without distant metastases and with liver metastases, and to compare their expression in two groups. Immunohistochemically
E-cadherin and KAI-1 expression significantly differed in CRC specimens and normal mucosa. Their expression did not show any association
with tumor differentiation and depth of invasion. Expression of E-cadherin statistically differed between two groups. KAI-1 displayed the
tendency to weaker expression in the primary tumor of patients with liver metastases. These findings perhaps may be an indicator of CRC
progression, but additional studies are needed.
Keywords:
colorectal cancer, liver metastases, immunohistochemistry, E-cadherin, KAI-1