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Abstract
Objective. Although β-catenin cytoplasmic stabilization and nuclear translocation play a key role in initiation of colorectal cancer (CRC), the mechanisms are far from clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of expressions of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and E-cadherin, and the β-catenin gene exon 3 mutation to the altered distribution of β-catenin, and their roles in CRC progression and prognosis. Material and methods. Expressions of β-catenin, COX-2 and E-cadherin in 96 tissue specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry, and mutation of β-catenin gene exon 3 was screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Results. Cytoplasmic/nuclear expression of β-catenin and reduced membranous expression of E-cadherin were associated, respectively, with the earlier and later stages of sequential colorectal carcinogenesis (p<0.05). The altered distribution of β-catenin was significantly associated with both high Dukes’ stages and poor differentiation of CRC (p<0.05). It also had a parallel relationship with COX-2 overexpression (p<0.05, Spearman's rank analysis), but not with reduced E-cadherin expression. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly worse survival rate for CRC patients with altered expression of β-catenin (p<0.05, log-rank test). Nevertheless, we failed to find any exon 3 mutation of β-catenin gene in all 60 cases of CRC. Conclusions. Altered distribution of β-catenin occurs in the early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis and has a parallel relationship with COX-2 overexpression. It may serve as a potential marker for the progression and prognosis of CRC. The exon 3 mutation did not appear contributive to the abnormal expression of β-catenin in CRCs in a Chinese population.