Predictive value of immunohistochemical expression of claudin-1 in colonic carcinoma

Colonic carcinoma is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Recently, the possible involvement of claudin-1, one of the major tight junction proteins, in the process of tumorigenesis has been suggested. Also, claudin-1 has emerged as a potential prognostic factor in different types of tumors. The aim of this study was to detect caludin-1 expression in colonic carcinoma and to correlate its expression with clinicopathological variables in an attempt to delineate its role as a potential new prognostic marker.

Immunohistochemical expression of claudin-1 was assessed in 50 Egyptian patients with colonic adenocarcinoma. The predictive performance of claudin-1 expression was statistically evaluated.

Decreased claudin-1 expression was found in 62% of colonic adenocarcinoma cases while similar expression was found in 38% of the cases. Statistical analysis showed a statistically significant inverse correlation between claudin-1 expression and tumor grade, depth of invasion, lymph node involvement, and tumor stage. Regression analysis showed that claudin-1 decreased expression significantly predicts that the tumor is of a high grade, high stage, and is associated with lymph node involvement. ROC curve analysis showed that claudin-1 had a sensitivity of 88.24% and a specificity of 81.25% for the prediction of tumor stage and a sensitivity of 73.33% and a specificity of 82.86% for the prediction of lymph node involvement.

Claudin-1 decreased expression in colonic carcinoma contributes to tumor dedifferentiation, invasion and metastasis. Claudin-1 expression could be used as a predictor of colonic carcinoma stage and lymph node status with a high sensitivity and specificity.