Increased expression of beta-catenin, phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3beta, cyclin D1, and c-myc in laterally spreading colorectal tumors.

Abstract

Laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) are considered a special subtype of superficial colorectal tumor. This study was performed to characterize the clinicopathological features and examine activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in LSTs and protruded-type colorectal adenomas (PAs). Fifty LSTs and 54 PAs were collected, and their clinicopathological characteristics were compared. The expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), phosphorylated GSK-3beta, (phospho-GSK-3beta), cyclin D1, and c-myc was investigated by immunohistochemical staining on serial sections. Patients with LSTs were significantly older than those bearing PAs (63.4 vs 47.4 years old; p<0.001). The mean size of LSTs was significantly larger than that of PAs (27.0 mm vs 14.6 mm; p<0.01). Forty-eight percent of LSTs were located in the proximal colon, which was significantly higher than that of PAs (18.5%; p<0.05). Expression of beta-catenin, phospho-GSK-3beta, cyclin D1, and c-myc was significantly increased in LSTs compared with PAs (p<0.05). However, E-cadherin and total GSK-3beta expression was not significantly different between the two groups. The level of beta-catenin expression correlated strongly with phospho-GSK-3beta, cyclin D1, and c-myc expression in LSTs but not in PAs. Our findings suggest that activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is more prevalent in LSTs than in PAs, suggesting that phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of GSK-3beta may be involved in LST carcinogenesis.

• Authors: Jing Wang, Xinying Wang, Wei Gong, Biantao Mi, Side Liu, Bo Jiang
• Journal: The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society (J Histochem Cytochem) Vol. 57 Issue 4 Pg. 363-71 (Apr 2009) ISSN: 0022-1554 [Print] United States
• PMID: 19064714 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• MYC protein, human
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
• beta Catenin
• Cyclin D1
• GSK3B protein, human
• Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
• Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3

Topics

• Adenoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (biosynthesis)
• Colorectal Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Cyclin D1 (biosynthesis)
• Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (biosynthesis)
• Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Phosphorylation
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc (biosynthesis)
• beta Catenin (biosynthesis)