Nectin-1 Expression in Colorectal Cancer: Is There a Group of Patients with High Risk for Early Disease Recurrence?

Abstract

Background: Despite improvements in therapy of colorectal cancer, some patients will present occurrence of recurrence either locally or distantly. Tumor metastasis constitutes the major cause of cancer-associated morbidity and mortality. Nectin-1 belongs to the family of immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules that contribute to the formation of cell-cell adhesions and regulate a series of cellular activities including cell polarization, differentiation, movement, proliferation, and survival. Expression of Nectin-1 in malignant tumors has been associated with aggressive tumor phenotypes. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess Nectin-1 expression patterns in colorectal cancer and to investigate its clinical significance. Methods: Nectin-1 expression was assessed via immunohistochemistry in surgical specimens of a cohort comprised of 111 patients with primary resectable colorectal cancer. Results were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and survival data. Progression-free survival was defined as the primary outcome of the present study. Results: Nectin-1 was strongly expressed in the cytoplasm of colorectal cancer cells. High Nectin-1 expression was associated with advanced stage of disease (p = 0.012) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.007). Progression-free survival of patients exhibiting high expression of Nectin-1 in the first 36 months after surgery was significantly worse compared to patients with low expression of Nectin-1 (55.7%, 95% CI = 47–70, vs. 82.1%, 95% CI = 69–93, p = 0.014) and independent of other clinicopathological characteristics (HR = 0.389, 95% CI = 0.156–0.972, p = 0.043). Conclusion: Nectin-1 expression in colorectal cancer is associated with a significantly worse 3-year progression-free survival identifying therefore a group of patients with high risk for early disease recurrence.

FAM83H and Nectin1 expression are related with survival and relapse of bladder urothelial carcinoma patients

“…Nectin1 is one of the four members of the Nectin family and is expressed in many cell types, including neurons, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells [ 27 ]. In the context of cancer research, one study reported that Nectin1 expression was associated with shorter progression-free survival of colorectal cancer patients [ 21 ]. Another study reported that Nectin1 expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was significantly related to invasion, metastasis, and shorter OS [ 22 ].…”

“…Although limited number of studies have analyzed the role of Nectin1 in tumors, most of these studies have found that Nectin1 expression is associated with cancer progression. In colorectal cancer, Nectin1 expression was associated with a worse 3-year progression-free survival rate [ 21 ]. Furthermore, Nectin1 expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts was correlated with a poor prognosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients [ 22 ].…”

High fascin-1 expression in colorectal cancer identifies patients at high risk for early disease recurrence and associated mortality

“…A total of 111 clinically annotated surgically removed primary CRC samples was retrospectively identified from the database of patients of the 2nd Department of Propedeutic Surgery in Laiko General Hospital in Athens, Greece [25]. The specimens were collected from the established colorectal tumor tissue bank of the Institute of Pathology of the National and Kapodistian University, Athens Medical School, Laiko General Hospital.…”

Fascin-1 expression in colorectal cancer identifies patients at high risk for early disease recurrence and associated mortality.

“…Regarding lymph node metastasis, 53.2% of the patients had no lymph node metastasis, 21.6% presented lymph node metastasis in 1-3 regional lymph nodes, and 25.2% to 4 or more regional lymph nodes. Metastatic disease in terms of resectable liver metastasis was present in 15…”