Expression and Significance of Ezrin and E-cadherin in Colorectal Carcinoma

Background: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the third most common human cancer and the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths. Ezrin may be involved in several functions including cell adhesion, motility and cell survival. There is increasing evidence that it regulates tumor progression and metastasis. Also E-cadherin dysfunction is proposed to contribute to cancer progression, facilitating proliferation, invasion, and possibly metastasis. Aim: To evaluate the expression of Ezrin and E-cadherin in colorectal carcinoma and its relation to clinicopathological parameters. Material and Methods: The expressions of Ezrin and E-cadherin were detected by immunohistochemical staining (streptavidine-peroxidase method) in 50 cases of colorectal carcinoma and their adjacent normal colorectal mucosa. Results: The expression of Ezrin in colorectal carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal colorectal mucosa (74% versus 20%, P < 0.001).The expression of E-cadherin in colorectal carcinoma was significantly lower than that in adjacent normal colorectal mucosa (32% versus 100%, P < 0.001). Ezrin and E-cadherin expression were associated with decreased tumor differentiation, advanced Dukes stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Ezrin expression was associated with invasion depth (P=0.009).The expressions of E-cadherin and Ezrin were negative related in colorectal cancer (P<0.001). Conclusion: Ezrin and E-cadherin are associated with the tumorigenesis and development of colorectal cancer, and play an important role in invasion and metastasis processes. Combined detection of the expression of E-cadherin and Ezrin may serve as an important prognostic predictor for colorectal cancer.