Overexpression of fascin-1 in advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma:
Tissue microarray analysis of immunostaining scores with clinicopathological
parameters
Affiliations: Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital,
National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan | Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal
Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Tapei,
Taiwan | Department of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Lungtan Taoyuan County,
Taiwan
Note: [] Corresponding author: Jong-Shiaw Jin, M.D., Ph.D., Department of
Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center,
No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu 114, Taipei, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 2
87927155; Fax: +886 2 26913324; E-mail: jsjin@ndmctsgh.edu.tw
Abstract: Objective: Fascin-1 is an actin-binding protein that promotes cell
proliferation, adhesion and motility. We tested the hypothesis that fascin-1
expression correlates with clinicopathological parameters of colorectal
adenocarcinomas. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of fascin-1 was
performed in tissue microarrays of 91 surgical specimens, including 32 well, 33
moderately, and 26 poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinomas; and in 22
specimens from colorectal adenomas with dysplasia. Results: Scattered
fascin-1 expression was demonstrated in 9 control specimens of normal colonic
glandular epithelia. Higher fascin-1 immunostaining scores were significantly
associated with advanced dysplasia in colorectal adenomas (mild 4.2 ± 1.3,
moderate 13.5 ± 5.3, and severe 22.5 ± 6.7) and high-grade
histopathological differentiation of colorectal adenocarcinomas (grade I
88.6 ± 9, grade II 101 ± 11, and grade III 144 ± 13). Higher
immunostaining scores of fascin-1 were also significantly associated with
advanced T stage (T1: 42 ± 10, T2: 60 ± 12, T3: 108 ± 12, and
T4: 142 ± 15). Higher fascin-1 scores were related with more advanced M
and N stages of colorectal carcinomas, but not significant correlation. Conclusions: Higher expression of fascin-1 correlates significantly with tumor
grades and TNM stages in colorectal adenocarcinomas and also with levels of
dysplastic change in colorectal adenomas.
