[The features of expression of cellular adhesion molecules in primary colorectal cancer and its metastases].

Features of expression, distribution and interaction of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and CD-44v6 were immunologically assayed in samples from primary colorectal tumors (129) and their metastases to the lymph nodes (35) and liver (92). Reduction or total absence of E-cadherin expression was significantly more typical of tumors metastasizing, at different stages, to the liver (64/84, 76%) than in metastasis-free ones (14/45, 31%) (p=0.014). Enhanced cytoplasmic immunoreactivity and beta-catenin nuclear translocation occurred in 80% of disseminated tumors. Such alterations of E-cadherin, beta-catenin expression may be regarded as unfavorable prognosis factors involved in colorectal cancer. No significant correlation between CD-44v6 expression and tumor cell ability to metastasize was recorded.