Immunohistochemical prognostic factors in resected colorectal lung metastases using tissue microarray analysis

Aims Immunohistochemical prognostic factors of pulmonary metastatic colorectal cancer lesions have not been well investigated. The study was conducted to identify the immunohistochemical prognostic factors of metastasized colorectal cancer. Methods We immunohistochemicaly investigated the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1-R), E-cadherin, ß-catenin, and p53 using a tissue microarray in the surgical specimens of 86 metastatic lesions. Results The univariate analysis revealed E-cadherin and membrane ß-catenin positive to be prognostic factors. IGF1-R and p53 were not significantly associated with the patientʹs survival. In multivariate analysis, the reduced expression of E-cadherin, aerogenous spread with floating cancer cell clusters and vascular invasion were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions The reduced expression of E-cadherin in the pulmonary metastatic lesions was an independent predictor of poor survival after pulmonary metastasectomy.