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. 2025 Apr-Jun;15(2):98-103.
doi: 10.4103/ijabmr.ijabmr_535_24. Epub 2025 Apr 7.

Evaluation of Immunohistochemical Expression of Beta-catenin and E-cadherin as Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Markers in Colorectal Carcinoma - An Analytical Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Care Center

Ramya Katta  1 , Sindhura Nugala  2 , Madhavi Kolakonda  3 , Aparna Chinnam  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of Immunohistochemical Expression of Beta-catenin and E-cadherin as Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Markers in Colorectal Carcinoma - An Analytical Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Care Center

Ramya Katta et al. Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2025 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

Context: Colorectal carcinoma is a major health concern globally, with varying prognostic outcomes influenced by molecular markers. E-cadherin and beta-catenin are proteins involved in cellular adhesion and signaling pathways, and their aberrant expression has been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the association between abnormal immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin with various clinicopathological parameters in colorectal carcinomas.

Setting and design: A retrospective cross-sectional 3-year analytical study.

Materials and methods: A total of 52 colorectal carcinoma tissue samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry to assess the expression levels of E-cadherin and beta-catenin. Clinicopathological parameters including age, gender, tumor location, tumor differentiation, depth of invasion, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and nodal involvement were assessed and correlated with protein expression patterns.

Statistical analysis: SPSS version 24 was used for calculating P values using the Chi-squared test.

Results: Aberrant expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin was observed in a significant proportion of the tumors. Poorly differentiated tumors showed a marked loss of E-cadherin and abnormal beta-catenin localization. In addition, increased lymphovascular and nodal involvement were significantly associated with these aberrant expression patterns.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that abnormal expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin is linked to poor tumor differentiation and higher rates of lymphovascular and nodal involvement. These markers may serve as potential biomarkers for assessing prognosis in colorectal carcinoma patients.

Keywords: Beta-catenin; E-cadherin; colorectal carcinoma; immunohistochemistry; prognosis; tumor differentiation.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Photomicrograph showing (a) Well-differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma, (b) Normal membranous expression of E-cadherin, (c) Normal membranous expression of beta-catenin
Figure 2
Figure 2
Photomicrograph showing (a) Well-differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma, (b) Aberrant cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of E-cadherin, (c) Aberrant nuclear expression of beta-catenin
Figure 3
Figure 3
Photomicrograph showing (a) Poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma, (b) Aberrant absent expression of E-cadherin, (c) Aberrant cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of beta-catenin
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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