Introduction: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The high morbidity and mortality rates associated with CRC are attributed to the ability of the neoplastic cells to metastasize to distant sites. Fascin actin-bundling protein-1 (FSCN-1) is a member of Fascin family. Its expression is up regulated in various types of neoplasms. Previous studies reported that Fascin-1 is responsible for enhancing both invasive and metastatic potentials of neoplastic cells by modulating cellular and extracellular properties. Fortunately, FSCN-1 can be blocked by new therapeutic agents.
Objectives: This studyaimed to evaluate expression of FSCN-1 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC)and to correlate its expression with the available clinicopathological parameters to assess its prognostic value.
Methods: Paired formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue blocks of 60 cases of CRC and their adjacent normal colonic mucosa were included in this study. FSCN-1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Correlation of different levels of Fascin-1 expression with different clinicopathological parameters were statistically analyzed.
Results: All cases of CRC showed immunohistochemical expression of FSCN-1 with variable staining intensities and extents. FSCN-1 expression showed positive statistically significant correlations with tumor grade (p = 0.002), pathological T stage (p < /em>< 0.005), nodal metastasis (p < /em><0.006), and vascular invasion (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: FSCN-1 is an independent adverse prognostic factor in CRC. Its overexpression could be used as an indicator of tumor progression and metastasis. It could be targeted in future therapeutic approaches to decrease CRC progression and spread.