E-Cadherin and Angiopoietin-2 as Potential Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer With Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
Hee Kyung Kim, Yaewon Yang, Seonggyu Byeon, Yusook Jeong, Jihyun Kwon, Ki Hyeong Lee, Seung-Myoung Son, Hye Sook Han
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: E-Cadherin has been implicated in cell-cell adhesion, and soluble E-cadherin is involved in angiogenesis and resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy in several cancer types. This study aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of soluble E-cadherin and other angiogenesis-related factors in plasma and malignant ascites of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed on 95 body fluid samples (57 plasma and 38 malignant ascites) from patients with CRC. The status of E-cadherin and angiopoietin-2 (AGNPT2) was retrospectively evaluated by immunohistochemistry in primary CRC and paired metastatic peritoneal tissues or cell blocks of malignant ascites of 30 patients with peritoneal metastases of CRC. RESULTS: The expression levels of soluble E-cadherin and ANGPT2 in plasma samples were significantly increased in patients with PC compared with those without. E-Cadherin concentration was significantly lower and ANGPT2 concentration was significantly higher in malignant ascites than plasma samples. Expression of E-cadherin was strongly positive, whilst that of ANGPT2 was negative in primary colorectal tissues, metastatic peritoneal tissues, and cell blocks of malignant ascites by immunohistochemistry. High levels of soluble E-cadherin or ANGPT2 in ascites were negatively associated with overall survival in patients with CRC with malignant ascites. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that soluble E-cadherin and ANGPT2 may be surrogate biomarkers for clinical outcome in patients with PC from CRC.