AIM: To investigate the changes that occur in E-cadherin expression during the process of metastasis in colorectal cancer.METHODS: E-cadherin expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and two indices of expres...AIM: To investigate the changes that occur in E-cadherin expression during the process of metastasis in colorectal cancer.METHODS: E-cadherin expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and two indices of expression were calculated which reflected the level of expression and the locations (membrane and cytoplasm). Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were used to assess the value of these two E-cadherin indices as predictors of both disease-free (DFS) and disease-specific (DSS) survival. RESULTS: E-cadherin membrane index (MI), but not cytoplasmic index (CI), was significantly higher in primary tumors than their metastases (P = 0.0001). Furthermore, both primary tumor MI and CI were higher among the patients who developed subsequent metastasis (P = 0.022 and P = 0.007, respectively). Interestingly, both indices were higher in liver metastase compared to other anatomic sites (MI, P = 0.034 and CI, P = 0.022). The CI of the primary tumors was a significant predictor of DFS (P = 0.042, univariate analysis), with a strong inverse correlation between CI and DFS (P = 0.006, multivariate analysis). Finally, the MI of primary tumor proved to be a significant independent predictor of DSS, with higher indices being associated with a more favorable outcome (P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Examination of E-cadherin expression and distribution in colorectal tumors can be extremely valuable in predicting disease recurrence. The observation that aberrant cytoplasmic expression of E-cadherin can predict disease recurrence is obviously of great importance for both patients and clinicians, and significantly affects decisions concerning the therapy and management of the patients.展开更多
AIM: This study shares Asian clinical experiences of carcinoid tumors that originated in the upper gastrointestinal tract.METHODS: From May 1987 to June 2002, we had found only 13 cases of histologically confirmed car...AIM: This study shares Asian clinical experiences of carcinoid tumors that originated in the upper gastrointestinal tract.METHODS: From May 1987 to June 2002, we had found only 13 cases of histologically confirmed carcinoid tumors in the upper gastrointestinal tract by endoscopic examinations. There were eight males and five females.The mean age was 53.16±20.51 years that ranged from 26 to 82 years. Each of their clinical presentations,locations, tumor morphology, and size and the treatment outcome were analyzed and discussed.RESULTS: One patient had a polypoid lesion at the lower esophagus, nine were stomach lesions and three located at the duodenum. All patients with polypoid and submucosal tumor types were of small size (<1.7 cm) and all patients survived after simple excision or polypectomy.Four of the five patients in tumor mass forms died and the tumors were more than 2.0 cm in size.CONCLUSION: Carcinoid tumors rarely originated from the upper gastrointestinal tract and are usually found accidentally after endoscopic study. Bigger size (more than 2 cm) tumor masses may indicate a more severe disease and poor prognosis.展开更多
基金Supported by grants from the Special Government Funding (EVO) allocated to Turku University Central Hospital
文摘AIM: To investigate the changes that occur in E-cadherin expression during the process of metastasis in colorectal cancer.METHODS: E-cadherin expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and two indices of expression were calculated which reflected the level of expression and the locations (membrane and cytoplasm). Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were used to assess the value of these two E-cadherin indices as predictors of both disease-free (DFS) and disease-specific (DSS) survival. RESULTS: E-cadherin membrane index (MI), but not cytoplasmic index (CI), was significantly higher in primary tumors than their metastases (P = 0.0001). Furthermore, both primary tumor MI and CI were higher among the patients who developed subsequent metastasis (P = 0.022 and P = 0.007, respectively). Interestingly, both indices were higher in liver metastase compared to other anatomic sites (MI, P = 0.034 and CI, P = 0.022). The CI of the primary tumors was a significant predictor of DFS (P = 0.042, univariate analysis), with a strong inverse correlation between CI and DFS (P = 0.006, multivariate analysis). Finally, the MI of primary tumor proved to be a significant independent predictor of DSS, with higher indices being associated with a more favorable outcome (P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Examination of E-cadherin expression and distribution in colorectal tumors can be extremely valuable in predicting disease recurrence. The observation that aberrant cytoplasmic expression of E-cadherin can predict disease recurrence is obviously of great importance for both patients and clinicians, and significantly affects decisions concerning the therapy and management of the patients.
文摘AIM: This study shares Asian clinical experiences of carcinoid tumors that originated in the upper gastrointestinal tract.METHODS: From May 1987 to June 2002, we had found only 13 cases of histologically confirmed carcinoid tumors in the upper gastrointestinal tract by endoscopic examinations. There were eight males and five females.The mean age was 53.16±20.51 years that ranged from 26 to 82 years. Each of their clinical presentations,locations, tumor morphology, and size and the treatment outcome were analyzed and discussed.RESULTS: One patient had a polypoid lesion at the lower esophagus, nine were stomach lesions and three located at the duodenum. All patients with polypoid and submucosal tumor types were of small size (<1.7 cm) and all patients survived after simple excision or polypectomy.Four of the five patients in tumor mass forms died and the tumors were more than 2.0 cm in size.CONCLUSION: Carcinoid tumors rarely originated from the upper gastrointestinal tract and are usually found accidentally after endoscopic study. Bigger size (more than 2 cm) tumor masses may indicate a more severe disease and poor prognosis.