PURPOSE: Reduced expression of the metastasis suppressor gene nm23-H1 has previously been correlated with high tumor metastatic potential and fatal clinical outcome in some tumors (e.g., breast). For colorectal carcinomas, the findings are equivocal. METHODS: We have used a monoclonal antibody against nm23-H1 to investigate the expression in colorectal carcinomas at the time of primary curative surgery (R0 resection) to assess if there was any relation between nm23-H1 expression and stage or histologic grade at the time of primary tumor removal. RESULTS: Of 100 colorectal carcinomas studied (Stages I, II, and III according UICC, all resected curatively), nm23-H1 immunoreactivity was weak in 41 (41 percent), moderate in 24 (24 percent), and strong in 35 (35 percent) cases. The grade of positivity against nm23-H1 was significantly lower in advanced stages of the disease (Stages II or III) (P < 0.001, chi-squared = 52.8). In tumors with low or weak immunoreactivity against nm23-H1, frequency of lymph node metastases was significantly higher compared with those with moderate or strong staining (P < 0.001; chi-squared = 50.58). Therefore, with a sensitivity of 93 percent and a specificity of 58 percent, low nm23-H1 immunoreactivity of the primary tumor, assessed at the time of surgery, is an indicator of the presence of lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Immunohisto-chemical evaluation of nm23-H1 in the primary tumor or in a biopsy is a useful predictor of stage of disease and presence of lymph node metastases in colorectal carcinomas and may have clinical significance, e.g., in predicting optimal therapeutic regimes.
PURPOSE: Reduced expression of the metastasis suppressor gene nm23-H1 has previously been correlated with high tumor metastatic potential and fatal clinical outcome in some tumors (e.g., breast). For colorectal carcinomas, the findings are equivocal. METHODS: We have used a monoclonal antibody against nm23-H1 to investigate the expression in colorectal carcinomas at the time of primary curative surgery (R0 resection) to assess if there was any relation between nm23-H1 expression and stage or histologic grade at the time of primary tumor removal. RESULTS: Of 100 colorectal carcinomas studied (Stages I, II, and III according UICC, all resected curatively), nm23-H1 immunoreactivity was weak in 41 (41 percent), moderate in 24 (24 percent), and strong in 35 (35 percent) cases. The grade of positivity against nm23-H1 was significantly lower in advanced stages of the disease (Stages II or III) (P < 0.001, chi-squared = 52.8). In tumors with low or weak immunoreactivity against nm23-H1, frequency of lymph node metastases was significantly higher compared with those with moderate or strong staining (P < 0.001; chi-squared = 50.58). Therefore, with a sensitivity of 93 percent and a specificity of 58 percent, low nm23-H1 immunoreactivity of the primary tumor, assessed at the time of surgery, is an indicator of the presence of lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Immunohisto-chemical evaluation of nm23-H1 in the primary tumor or in a biopsy is a useful predictor of stage of disease and presence of lymph node metastases in colorectal carcinomas and may have clinical significance, e.g., in predicting optimal therapeutic regimes.
Authors: George A Garinis; Evangelos N Manolis; Nick E Spanakis; George P Patrinos; George Peros; Panayiotis G Menounos Journal: J Mol Med (Berl) Date: 2003-04-02 Impact factor: 4.599
Authors: S Kapitanović; T Cacev; M Berković; M Popović-Hadzija; S Radosević; S Seiwerth; S Spaventi; K Pavelić; R Spaventi Journal: J Clin Pathol Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 3.411