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Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate p63 expression pattern in Saudi colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and correlate that with clinicopathological parameters and its role in carcinogenesis and prognosis. Methods: Archival tumor samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for p63 expression in 324 consecutive Saudi patients diagnosed with CRC between January 2006 and December 2017 at the Pathology Department of a tertiary care Hospital, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Results: P63 over-expression was absent in normal mucosa, while 12.5% cases of adenoma showed its over-expression. In CRC, p63 expression was high in 24.1% of cases. There were no significant correlations between p63 expression and gender, tumor location, tumor size, and tumor histologic differentiation. However, high p63 expression revealed a significant correlation with age ( p =0.035), tumor type ( p =0.004), American Joint Committee on Cancer stage ( p =0.046), lymph node metastasis ( p =0.006), lymphovascular invasion ( p =0.006), distant metastasis ( p =0.049) high Ki67 expression ( p =0.000) and K-ras expression ( p =0.002). The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a shorter period of survival with p63 over-expression ( p <0.001). The Cox-regression model analysis showed that p63 over-expression was an independent prognostic marker in CRC ( p =0.000). Conclusion: P63 expression increased from normal to adenoma to carcinoma sequence. Moreover, p63 cytoplasmic expression seems to be related to high Ki67 indexing, K-ras expression, advanced tumor stage and poor clinical outcome of CRC. These findings suggest a significant role of cytoplasmic p63 expression in tumor progression and prognosis.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

432

Last Page

439

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