Evaluation of the malignant potential of aberrant crypt foci by immunohistochemical staining for beta-catenin in inflammation-induced rat colon carcinogenesis.

We previously showed that colitis enhanced the development of cancer and aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon carcinogenesis in Fischer 344 rats. In this study, we examined the effect of two different anti-inflammatory drugs [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs: Fenbufen) and a platelet activating factor-receptor antagonist (PAF-RA)] on the inflammation-induced rat colon carcinogenesis. Furthermore, we examined the expression and the localization of beta-catenin protein, and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-labeling index (LI) in ACF and cancer. PAF-RA significantly decreased the incidence of ACF in the rats (p<0.05), but Fenbufen did not affect the incidence of ACF and cancer. In most of the ACF (91%), beta-catenin was localized at the cell membrane like in normal colon epithelium. In about 9% of the ACF, beta-catenin was overexpressed not only on the cell membrane but also in the cytoplasm. In all of the cancer cells, beta-catenin was overexpressed in the nucleus. When we compared the PCNA-LI in the ACF showing normal beta-catenin expression pattern with that in the ACF showing abnormal beta-catenin expression pattern (overexpression in cytoplasm), there was no significant difference of the PCNA-LI in these two different types of ACF. These findings suggest that immunohistochemical staining of ACF for beta-catenin can evaluate the malignant potential of ACF, and that PAF-RA can be used for preventing the development of ACF in inflammation-induced carcinogenesis.