Comparative Analysis of Clinicopathologic Features and Tumor Suppressor Genes Expression According to Growth Patterns in Colorectal Carcinomas

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Growth patterns of colorectal carcinomas can be divided into polypoid growth (PG) and nonpolypoid growth (NPG). This study was intended to find characteristic clinicopathologic features and the expression status of p53, p21, and p16 with relation to growth patterns in colorectal carcinomas. METHODS: Sixty-one surgically resected colorectal carcinomas including 43 PG and 18 NPG carcinomas were reviewed in this study. Immunohistochemical stains for p53, p21, and p16 were done, and the results were analyzed with respect to growth patterns, and other prognosic parameters. RESULTS: PG carcinomas were significantly correlated with adenoma (p=0.0001), and with favorable histology group (p=0.04). On the contrary, NPG carcinomas were significantly correlated with unfavorable histology group (p=0.04). In NPG carcinomas, the frequency of positive expression of p53 was higher and the expression of p16 was lower than that of PG carcinomas. But there was no statistical significance (p=0.150, 0.210 respectively). The expression of p21 has no difference between NPG and PG carcinomas (p=0.953). CONCLUSIONS: As a result, it can be thought that the tendency of higher expression of p53 and lower expression of p16 in NPG carcinomas than in PG carcinomas may suggest more aggressive biologic behavior of NPG carcinomas.