Smad4 may help to identify a subset of colorectal cancer patients with early recurrence after curative therapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Loss of Smad4 function is associated with the acquisition of advanced colorectal cancer phenotypes. We investigated the role of Smad4 as a prognostic marker after curative therapy.

METHODOLOGY:

Four hundred and twenty nine consecutive colorectal cancers were analyzed by tissue microarray-based immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTS:

Smad4 protein was expressed in 61.5% (24/39), 53.1% (77/145), 41.3% (78/189) and 34.8% (16/46) of stage I, II, III and IV cancers, respectively. Lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis were strongly correlated with the loss of Smad4 expression (p<0.0001 and p=0.002, respectively). Disease-free survival did not differ between Smad4-positive and Smad4-negative cancers. In stage III disease, time to recurrence after curative therapy was shorter in the Smad4-negative than in the Smad4- positive cancers (20.1±15.1 vs. 34.6 ± 34.1 months, p=0.035).

CONCLUSIONS:

Smad4 protein is of no value in predicting recurrence after curative therapy in colorectal cancer, but it may be helpful in identifying a subset of patients with early recurrence after curative therapy.

• Authors: Byung Kyu Ahn, Si-Hyong Jang, Seung Sam Paik, Kang Hong Lee
• Journal: Hepato-gastroenterology (Hepatogastroenterology) 2011 Nov-Dec Vol. 58 Issue 112 Pg. 1933-6 ISSN: 0172-6390 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 22024061 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• SMAD4 protein, human
• Smad4 Protein

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Colorectal Neoplasms (pathology, therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (chemistry)
• Neoplasm Staging
• Prognosis
• Smad4 Protein (analysis, physiology)
• Tissue Array Analysis