Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: We explored the expressions of CD44v6 and Ezrin in colorectal adenoma carcinogenesis and their correlations with clinicopathological factors and prognosis. METHODS：Immunohistochemistry for CD44v6 and Ezrin were performed in normal mucosa(20 cases)，low grade adenoma tissues(40 cases) ，high grades adenoma tissues(20 cases) and colorectal cancer(80 cases). The correlations between expressions of CD44v6 and Ezrin with survival time and clinicopathological factors were evaluated. RESULTS：Expressions of CD44v6 and Ezrin in high grades colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinoma groups were higher than normal mucosa and low grade colorectal adenoma groups(P<0.01). Expressions were higher in lymph node metastasis group，serosal infiltration group，stages III-IV group than no lymph node metastasis group，no serosal infiltration and stages I-II group. CD44v6 and Ezrin were significantly correlated with survival time(Log-rank=18.587，P<0.05；Log-rank=7.804， P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that CD44v6 was an independent risk factor for prognosis (HR：7.582，95%CI：1.605-35.815，P=0.011). CONCLUSION：The expressions of CD44v6 and Ezrin were correlated with process of colorectal adenoma-carcinoma transition，invasion and metastasis. It would be valuable to combine CD44v6 and Ezrin to predict malignant transformation of colorectal adenoma and prognosis.

Key words: colorectal adenomas, CD44v6, Ezrin, immunohistochemistry