β-Catenin Regulation in Sporadic Colorectal Carcinogenesis: Not as Simple as APC

Figure 1

β-catenin expression. (a)β-catenin mRNA expression. CNRQ = Calibrated Normalized Relative Quantities, normalized to mean for all samples. Total patient number studied = seventy-five (75) with Normal group: seventeen (17) patients, C-IBS group: twenty-two (22) patients, D-IBS group: eight (8) patients, CD group: six (6) patients, UC group: eight (8) patients, and CRC group: sixteen (16) patients. denotes significant different versus normal group (p<0.05). (b)β-catenin nuclear expression and (c)β-catenin membrane/cytoplasmic expression by IHC. One-hundred and twenty (120) patient slides analysed with breakdown as follows: Normal group: twenty-five (25) patients, C-IBS: thirty (30) patients, D-IBS: fifteen (15) patients, CD: seven (7) patients, UC: twelve (12) patients, and CRC: thirty-three (33) patients.

(a) The expression of beta-catenin mRNA steadily increased from Normal, through the various disease entities to reach statistical significance in CRC

(b) Nuclear expression of beta-catenin protein was significant for CRC compared to IBS and IBD

(c) Membrane/cytoplasmic beta-catenin protein expression was highest in IBD and CRC