Objective: Nm23-H1 and CD44v6 expression has been shown to be correlated with the metastatic potential of colorectal cancer (CRC) in some studies but not in others. The present study was undertaken to evaluate immunohistochemically the expression of these markers and to correlate them with clinicopathological variables.
Materials and methods: Archival tissues of 41 non metastatic colorectal cancers were histopathologically evaluated and stained with monoclonal antibodies versus Nm23-H1 and CD44v6.
Results: Expression of Nm23-H1 was detected in 73% (n = 30) of all CRC, and CD44v6 in 37% (n = 15) of all CRC. CD44v6 was found to be statistically associated with tumour grading differentiation (p < 0.03), but no correlation emerged between Nm23-H1 and CD44v6 and Dukes stage, site, peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration, venous infiltrating, perineural infiltrating, tumour budding, pushing and infiltrating tumour growth.
Conclusion: Even if the results are not statistically significant, the authors noticed that the expression of Nm23-H1 was correlated with those histopathological parameters that indicate local disease progression and metastases.