Immunohistochemical Expression of E-Cadherin and Vimentin in Colorectal Carcinoma: A Cross-Sectional Study of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition-Related Alterations.

Abstract

Background:

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a major global health burden and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis are closely associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a biological process characterized by loss of epithelial markers and acquisition of mesenchymal features. E-cadherin and vimentin are key immunohistochemical markers representing epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes, respectively. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of these markers in colorectal carcinoma and to examine their distribution across clinicopathological parameters.

Methodology:

This cross-sectional observational study included 72 histopathologically confirmed cases of colorectal carcinoma. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for E-cadherin and vimentin using standardized protocols. Clinicopathological variables including age, sex, tumor size, grade, depth of invasion, lymph node involvement, lymphovascular space invasion, and pathological stage (AJCC 8th edition) were recorded. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, with categorical variables expressed as frequencies and percentages. No inferential statistical testing was performed.

Results:

E-cadherin expression was retained in the majority of cases, with higher positivity observed in smaller tumors, early depth of invasion (T1–T2), and well-differentiated histology. Reduced expression was more frequently observed in tumors with higher grade, greater depth of invasion (T3–T4), advanced pathological stage (AJCC Stage III–IV), lymph node involvement, and lymphovascular space invasion. Vimentin expression was observed in a subset of cases and showed higher frequency in tumors with larger size, deeper invasion, higher grade, advanced stage, nodal involvement, and lymphovascular space invasion. These findings demonstrate distribution patterns of EMT-related immunophenotypic alterations across adverse clinicopathological features.

Conclusion:

Altered expression of E-cadherin and vimentin is observed across clinicopathological characteristics associated with aggressive tumor behavior in colorectal carcinoma. However, due to the cross-sectional design and absence of survival data, no prognostic significance can be established. Further longitudinal studies are required to determine the clinical and prognostic relevance of these markers.