The relationships of adhesion molecules and angiogenesis with clinicopathologic parameters in colorectal carcinomas

SUMMARYColorectal carcinomas are among the most common tumors worldwide. A lot of effort goes into cancer research and new treatments. However, due to the development of metastatic disease, the mortality rate still remains high. Therefore many studies are done to clarify the prognostic factors in order to give direction to the new therapeutic approaches.The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic value of angiogenesis and loss of adhesion molecules in colorectal carcinogenesis.73 cases diagnosed with colorectal adenocarcinoma were included at Adnan Menderes University Medical Faculty Pathology Department between 2001 and 2008. In this study, some demographic data and histopathologic parameters were evaluated. Also the relation between these parameters and adhesion loss with angiogenesis which is the important component of carcinogenesis were investigated. For this purpose, in the determination of angiogenesis by immunhistochemical way VEGF, CD31 and CD105; in the determination of adhesion loss E-cadherin and ß-catenin were used.As a result of statistical analysis, a decrease tumor differentiation, peritumoral absence of lymphocyte infiltration, perineural and lymphovascular invasion and lymph node involvement in advanced stage than in the presence of tumor was detected. Microvessel density determined by CD31 was higher than by that of CD105. However, while microvessel density was higher in peritumoral area with CD31, although not statistically meaningful, was detected higher in intratumoral areas with CD105. Similarly, the expression of VEGF, cytoplasmic E-cadherin and ß-catenin was higher when nuclear ß-catening staining increased.Findings showed that CD105 was more specific in the determination of the tumor angiogenesis. E-cadherin expression from the cell membrane into the cytoplasm indicated increased microvessel density, together with carcinogenesis and angiogenesis that were in progress.Key words: Colorectal carcinoma, adhesion molecules, angiogenesis, CD105Communication adress: drhicran@hotmail.com