UBC9 and PI3K Expression in Colorectal Cancer: Possible Prognostic Role

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 9 (UBC9) expression has been implicated in a variety of malignancies, its precise role in CRC remains poorly understood. Also Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling is known to enhance cellular proliferation in various cancers. This study aims to investigate the expression of UBC9 and PI3K in CRC, prognostic and predictive significance, and association with patients' survival. A total of 140 archival samples of CRC, 70 normal colonic tissue, and 40 metastatic lymph nodes were included. Immunohistochemistry was done for UBC9 and PI3K antibodies, and appropriate statistical analysis of results was performed. UBC9 and PI3K are highly expressed in tumor cells, where co-high expression is significantly associated with high grade, advanced stage, high lymph node ratio (LNR), lympho-vascular invasion (LVI), low tumor infiltration lymphocytes (TILs), chemo-resistance, and positive KRAS mutation, with the poorest median survival (17 months) in patients. Significant positive association was revealed between both molecules in metastatic lymph nodes. UBC9 and PI3K are related to CRC poor survival and resistance to treatment. A potential combined role of both molecules in colorectal carcinogenesis could be found.