Expression and clinical significance of epithelial cell adhesion factor and tumor associated glycoprotein-72 in colon cancer

  Objective  To investigate the expression and clinical significance of epithelial cell adhesion factor (EpCAM) and tumor associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72) in colon cancer.

  Methods  Expressions of EpCAM and TAG-72 in 132 cases of colon cancer was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the scores were calculated. The relationship between the expression of EpCAM, TAG-72 and the clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis was analyzed.

  Results  The positive rate of EpCAM was 65.91%, with an average score of (2.48±0.54) points. The positive rate of TAG-72 was 70.45%, with an average score of (2.56±0.62) points. The positive rate of EpCAM and TAG-72 was 58.33%, with an average score of (3.12±0.60) points. The positive rates of EpCAM, TAG-72 and scores were significantly higher in patients with pathological characteristics such as tumor diameter over 3 cm, low differentiation/mucociliary pancreas, TNM stage (stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ), T_3~4 depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis than those with tumor diameter less or equal to 3 cm, high differentiation, TNM stage (stage Ⅰ to Ⅱ), T_1~2 depth of invasion and no lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The scores of patients with positive EpCAM, positive TAG-72, positive EpCAM and positive TAG-72 expressions were significantly higher than those with negative expressions, and the survival time was significantly shorter than those with negative expressions (P < 0.01). The scores of patients with positive EpCAM and positive TAG-72 expression were significantly higher than those with only positive EpCAM or positive TAG-72 expressions (P < 0.01), and the survival time was significantly shorter than those with only positive EpCAM or positive TAG-72 expressions (P < 0.01).

  Conclusion  The expressions of EpCAM and TAG-72 are related to tumor diameter, differentiation degree, TNM stage, invasion depth and lymph node metastasis. The survival time of patients with positive EpCAM, TAG-72 expressions shorter significantly, and the prognosis of patients with positive expressions of both EpCAM and TAG-72 is worse.