Abstract
Background: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. In Egypt, the relative frequency of colorectal cancer is about 9-12% with high male predominance 3:1. Several proteins are associated with the development and progression of colorectal cancer including Cox2 and CDX2 proteins. However, it is still controversial whether Cox2 and CDX2 expression can be regarded as prognostic factors for colorectal cancer patients.
Aim of Study: The purpose of this study is to detect the immunohistochemical expression of Cox2 and CDX2 in colorectal carcinoma and correlate their expression with the available clinicopathological parameters to illustrate their prognostic role.
Material and Methods: Fifty cases of colorectal carcinoma in colectomy specimens were collected retrospectively. They were stained by H & E, Cox2 and CDX2 for immunohisto-chemical study. The relations between their expression and the available clinicopathological parameters were evaluated.
Results: Cox2 expression in colorectal carcinoma showed statistically significant relation with depth of tumor invasion, lymph node status, distant metastasis and tumor stage. CDX2 expression showed statistically significant inverse relation with histopathological grade, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node status, distant metastasis, tumor stage and vascular invasion. There was statistically significant relation between the immunohistochemical expression of Cox2 and CDX2 in colorectal carcinoma.
Conclusions: Expression of Cox2 and loss of CDX2 are usually related to poor outcome and metastasis in colorectal cancer.