Clinicopathologic evaluation of CDw75 antigen expression in colorectal adenocarcinomas

Abstract

CDw75, a B lymphocyte surface antigen, is a sialylated carbohydrate epitope, which is generated by the enzyme beta galactosyl alpha 2,6 sialyltransferase (Sia-T1). In colon carcinomas, although higher levels of Sia-T1 has been described and found to be correlated with metastatic potential of tumor cells, the expression of CDw75 antigen still remains unknown. To address this issue, we investigated immunohistochemically CDw75 antigen expression in 195 colorectal adenocarcinomas and their nodal metastases. The correlation between CDw75 antigen expression with selected clinicopathologic variables was analyzed by using Chi-square and Fisher s exact tests. Positive staining was observed in 101 cases. Non-neoplastic mucosa was negative consistently. The frequency of positivity was decreased according to the degree of differentiation (p<0.001). Antigen expression was found to be associated with deeper penetration (p<0.006), positive lymph nodes (p<0.001), distant metastases (p<0.006) and advanced stage (p<0.001). Same relationships were detected in well and moderately differentiated tumors when CDw75 immunoreactivity was evaluated in each histologic grade separately. Our findings indicate that CDw75 antigen expression may be a good indicator of the biological aggressiveness of colorectal adenocarcinomas especially in tumors with well and moderately differentiated morphology.

Disease-Free Survival of Colorectal Cancer Patients in Relation to CDw75 Antigen Expression

“…Regarding the tumoural specimens analyzed, 82.2% of the cases expressed CDw75 antigen, in accordance with our previous results [22] . However, Elpek et al [20] detected the antigen in 51% of CRC specimens studied. The overexpression of CDw75 antigen in tumoural tissue compared with healthy tissue from CRC patients and in colorectal adenomas was corroborated statistically.…”

“…Several studies have reported increased CDw75 expression in gastric and colorectal tumours compared with healthy gastric and colorectal mucosa [19][20][21] . Moreover, CDw75 expression in gastric carcinomas has been associated with tumour progression and a worse prognosis [19,21] . Regarding colorectal cancer (CRC), although CDw75 expression has been correlated with the malignant potential [20] , the prognostic value of this antigen has not been described.…”

“…Moreover, CDw75 expression in gastric carcinomas has been associated with tumour progression and a worse prognosis [19,21] . Regarding colorectal cancer (CRC), although CDw75 expression has been correlated with the malignant potential [20] , the prognostic value of this antigen has not been described.…”

“…It has been widely studied in blood cells neoplasias [13][14][15][16] and in solid tumours, such as benign breast lesions and carcinomas, as well as in gastro-intestinal carcinomas [17][18][19][20][21] . Several studies have reported increased CDw75 expression in gastric and colorectal tumours compared with healthy gastric and colorectal mucosa [19][20][21] . Moreover, CDw75 expression in gastric carcinomas has been associated with tumour progression and a worse prognosis [19,21] .…”

Identification of proteins with the CDw75 epitope in human colorectal cancer

“…Furthermore, in CRC patients, ST6Gal I activity is greater in tumor than in healthy tissue (18,19), particularly in metastatic tumors (20). The CDw75 antigen is expressed in the majority of colorectal tumors, where its expression is augmented with regard to the healthy mucosa (21,22). Additionally, CDw75 expression is particularly high in non-polypoid tumors and advanced or metastatic stages of the disease, although results from clinicopathological studies suggest it could represent a good prognosis marker for 3-year overall survival (23).…”