Colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered the result of the cumulative effect of multiple mutations within the cell that allow it to escape growth control and regulatory mechanisms. EGFR overexpression has been suggested as a factor of poor prognosis in various cancers. β-catenin plays a role in the Wnt signaling pathway of colorectal cancers. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of two years comprising 20 colectomy specimens. Clinicopathological details were documented, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for EGFR and β-catenin was performed. EGFR-Brown membranous staining was observed; β-catenin-Brown membranous or nuclear staining was observed. IHC scoring was done, taking into account the intensity of staining and the percentage of positive tumor cells. The mean age of patients with colorectal carcinoma was 47.45 ± 14.8 (mean + SD) years. No statistically significant difference was noted in the EGFR immunoexpression and tumor grade (p value = 0.361) as well as the TNM stage (p value = 0.699). There was no statistically significant difference between β-catenin immunoexpression and tumor grade (p value = 0.444) and TNM stage (p value = 0.911). A statistically significant difference was noted in the EGFR and β-catenin immunoexpression (p = 0.0001). EGFR and β-catenin expression was observed in 50% and 65% of cases, respectively. EGFR and β-catenin expression was not associated with histological tumor grade and TNM stage of the tumor. In the present study, EGFR expression was significantly associated with β-catenin immunoexpression.
Keywords: Colorectal carcinoma; EGFR; β-catenin.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Indian Association of Surgical Oncology 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.