The expression and mutation of β-catenin in colorectal traditional serrated adenomas.

Context : Exon 3 mutation of β-catenin is associated with the carcinogenesis. Aims: In this study we aimed to detect the expression of exon 3 mutations of β-catenin in colorectal TSA, TA/VTA, and CRC. Materials and Methods : Immunohistochemistry staining for β-catenin was performed for 30 TSA, 20 tubular adenomas (TA)/villous tubular adenomas (VTA), and 21 colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cases. DNA sequencing of the exon 3 of β-catenin gene was performed for 8 TSA cases, 6 TA cases, 5 VTA cases, and 10 CRC cases with positive staining in the nuclei and cytoplasm. Statistical Analysis: A Fisher exact test and chi-square test were used to analyze the differentiations of the expression of β-catenin in TSA, TA/VTA, and CRC. Results : The percentages of β-catenin expression in TSA, TA/VTA, and CRC were 76.6% (23/30), 70.0% (14/20), and 95.2% (20/21), respectively, and were significantly different among these three types of tissue specimens (χ2 = 22.805, P < 0.001). Although β-catenin expression levels in TSA were not related to it in TA/VTA, they were significantly different between TSA/TA/VTA and CRC. The degree of dysplasia was well correlated with β-catenin expression (TSA: P < 0.01; TA/VTA: P < 0.05). But β-catenin exon 3 mutations were not detected in any of these tissue specimens. Conclusions : Aberrant β-catenin expression is associated with the degree of dysplasia in TSA. β-catenin likely plays an important role in the pathogenesis of colorectal TSA and conventional adenomas.

Foco de criptas aberrantes e câncer da junção colorretal: análise da presença de lesões precoces microscópicas na periferia do câncer colorretal e correlação com a expressão da β-catenina e Ki-67 / Aberrant crypt foci and cancer of the colorectal junction: the correlation between β-catenin/Ki-67 expression and the occurrence of early microscopic secondary lesions surrounding periphery colorectal cancer

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a presença de foco de criptas aberrantes (FCA) em mucosa macroscopicamente normal, localizada na periferia de um câncer colorretal (CCR) e correlacionar a progressão tumoral destes FCA para o CCR, por meio da expressão da β-catenina e o Ki-67. MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se 21 espécimes cirúrgicos contendo adenocarcinoma de junção retossigmóide. Foram coletadas amostras localizadas a 1 e 5 cm proximal e distal ao tumor, quando possível, bem como um fragmento da neoplasia. Os FCA foram selecionados. Subseqüentemente foi realizado estudo imunoistoquímico com os anticorpos β-catenina e o Ki-67. RESULTADOS: A expressão nuclear da β-catenina nos adenocarcinomas, revelou freqüência de 81 por cento. O Ki-67 apresentou a mesma freqüência. Apesar disso o coeficiente Kappa revelou fraca concordância entre estes anticorpos. Foram observados 20 FCA, sendo que 13 destes focos localizavam-se nas proximidades do tumor. Nenhum dos FCA apresentou expressão da β-catenina nuclear, tampouco para o Ki-67. CONCLUSÃO: Nas áreas situadas a 1 cm da neoplasia colorretal, foi observada maior concentração de FCA em relação às áreas situadas a 5 cm do tumor. No entanto, não se observou correlação entre a expressão da β-catenina e ki-67 nos colonócitos das criptas aberrantes das áreas estudadas, com as células neoplásicas do adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in macroscopic normal mucosa surrounding colorectal cancers (CRC); additionally, analyze tumor progression from ACF to CRC by means of β-catenin and Ki-67 expression. METHODS: Twenty-one surgical specimens showing colorectal junction adenocarcinoma were included. Macroscopic normal mucosa proximal and distal to the primary tumor was sampled at a distance of 1 and 5 cm in both sides. A primary tumor sample was also retrieved. Eventually, ACF's were selected and immunohistochemical analysis of β-catenin and Ki-67 were carried out. RESULTS: Among all adenocarcinoma samples, the frequency of positive â-catenin nuclear expression was 81 percent. The Ki-67 expression demonstrated the same percentage of positivity as did β-catenin. However, the Kappa coefficient showed weak relationship between those two antibodies. Among 20 ACF's analyzed, 13 were located close (1 cm) to the tumor. None of the ACF's demonstrated nuclear expression of β-catenin or Ki-67. CONCLUSION: Higher concentrations of ACF's were observed in colonic mucosa at a distance of 1 cm compared to samples at 5 cm from the primary CRC. However, we could not demonstrate positive correlation between colonocytes β-catenin expression and the occurrence of ACF's.