Prognostic Significance of Tissue Leptin Expression in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Abstract

PurposeLeptin is encoded by the ob gene and is involved in the control of food intake and energy expenditure. Recent studies have implicated leptin expression to be an indicator of tumor features and prognosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of tissue expression of leptin with the clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer patients.MethodsPatients who had undergone a curative surgical resection for a colorectal adenocarcinoma from 2000 to 2004 were included in the study. Immunohistochemical analyses of leptin expression were performed, and clinicopathological parameters were evaluated.ResultsClinical data and tumor tissues of 146 patients were evaluated. The mean age was 68.6 ± 11.3 years, and 61.0% were men. Immunohistochemically, the rates of negative, weak, moderate, and strong leptin expression were 2.7% (4 of 146), 5.5% (8 of 146), 43.2% (63 of 146), and 48.6% (71 of 146), respectively. We compared the negative, weak, and moderate expression group (group A) with the strong expression group (group B). Leptin expression was inversely associated with nodal stage (P = 0.007) between the two groups. Leptin expression was not significantly associated with differentiation (P = 0.37), T stage (P = 0.16), and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (P = 0.49), and no significant differences in the disease-free and the overall survivals (P = 0.78 and P = 0.61) were observed.ConclusionResults demonstrated an inverse association of nodal stage with high leptin expression. Higher leptin expression level might predict better oncologic outcome. However, further studies are warranted to identify the exact role of leptin expression in colorectal cancer.

Expression of leptin in colorectal adenocarcinoma showed significant different survival patterns associated with tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, distant metastasis, local recurrence, and relapse of disease in the western province of Saudi Arabia

“…[ 34 – 38 ] Although few studies has recommended that the immunohistochemical staining of leptin could be helpful as a marker to predict the characteristics and prognosis of colorectal carcinoma, but conflicting information has been reported. [ 20 – 25 ]…”

“…[ 7 – 9 ] Several reports have described leptin role in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of tumor cells and how it prevents apoptosis through different ways. [ 10 – 14 ] Histologically, many studies have attempted to test the relationship between leptin immunoexpression and clinical parameters in several tumors including colorectal cancer, but the findings are controversial, [ 15 – 25 ] and yet, not much is known about the clinical significance of leptin phenotype in colorectal carcinomas. Thus, the present study investigates the immunohistochemical staining of leptin in colorectal cancer, and assesses the correlation of its expression with the clinical characteristics and follow up information of these neoplasms.…”

The prognostic and therapeutic role of hormones in colorectal cancer: a review

“…Wang et al [26] found that leptin/Ob-R expression was associated with later-stage, easy metastasis and lower grade of disease. Jeong WK [27] also found that leptin expression was inversely associated with nodal stage but was not associated with differentiation, T stage and stage of disease. Guadagni et al [28] looked at both serum leptin and adiponectin levels in patients with primary and metastatic CRC and compared it to controls.…”

Obesity-Related Colorectal Cancer: The Role of Leptin

“…Therefore, the authors concluded that a higher leptin expression level was a predictor of a better oncologic outcome and that high leptin expression in colorectal-cancer tissue might be a good prognostic factor. Assessment of leptin signaling in tumor tissue needs further investigation to determine its possible impact on prognosis [ 12 ].…”