The clinical and prognostic significance of chemerin expression in colorectal cancers

Colorectal cancer has the highest incidence rate among malignancies originating in the digestive system and represents a significant global burden of disease and mortality. The expansion of screening programs has increased opportunities for early diagnosis and led to a partial decline in mortality rates. Smoking, advanced age, genetic predisposition, inflammatory bowel diseases, adenomatous polyps, alcohol consumption, and dietary habits are the main risk factors for colorectal cancer. Tumors located in the rectum, in particular, exhibit distinct characteristics from other types of colorectal cancer in terms of clinical course and treatment approaches. Adipokines secreted by adipose tissue are peptide-based molecules that play important regulatory roles in both metabolic and tumor biology processes. In addition to their role in controlling glucose and lipid metabolism, they are known to influence fundamental biological mechanisms such as cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and tumor progression. Chemerin, one of these adipokines, has recently attracted attention due to its role in the interaction between the immune system and the tumor microenvironment. It has been reported that chemerin suppresses tumor development by enhancing the immune response in some cancers, while in other cases it promotes tumor growth. Due to this dual effect, a detailed elucidation of chemerin's functions may offer new opportunities for the early diagnosis and targeted treatment of both metabolic diseases and malignancies. In this study, the immunohistochemistry score in rectal cancer (low-high grade) patients was compared with tubulovillous adenoma and control groups, and a significant difference was observed. Furthermore, our study found no significant association between chemerin expression and overall survival (OS). This study is the first to compare chemerin immunohistochemical scoring in rectal cancer with control and adenoma groups. Chemerin may be a biomarker for rectal cancer diagnosis, but it is unlikely to be a biomarker for survival. Prospective studies with larger patient groups are needed to obtain more reliable results. Keywords: Rectal Cancer, Chemerin, Adipokines