Prognostic Significance of β-catenin in Colorectal Cancer with Liver Metastasis

Abstract

Aims A decreased expression of β-catenin has been known to be associated with tumour metastasis. The prognostic value of β-catenin expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with liver metastasis was evaluated. Materials and methods Seventy patients who underwent curative resection for CRC with liver metastasis were included. Tissue samples from normal colon mucosa, primary CRC and metastatic liver lesions were prepared in tissue microarrays, and were stained by immunohistochemistry with β-catenin antibody. The β-catenin expression of primary CRC tissues and metastatic liver tissues was analysed. Results A high expression of β-catenin (score > 6) was observed in 42.0% and 21.9% of primary colorectal tissues and metastatic liver tissues, respectively. The β-catenin expression in metastatic liver tissues was significantly lower than in primary CRC tissues ( P = 0.022). The patients were classified into two groups according to the difference in the β-catenin expression score between the primary CRC and the liver metastasis. Group A was defined as patients showing a remarkably decreased expression of β-catenin in their metastatic liver tissue and group B was defined as patients showing a maintained or increased β-catenin expression in their metastatic liver tissue in comparison with their primary CRC. The overall survival and disease-free survival rates were better in group B than in group A, and this was statistically significant ( P = 0.02, P = 0.002). Conclusion The decreased expression of β-catenin in a metastatic liver lesion may be a poor prognostic marker in CRC with liver metastasis and further investigation is necessary.