[Aberrant crypt foci and cancer of the colorectal junction: the correlation between beta-catenin/Ki-67 expression and the occurrence of early microscopic secondary lesions surrounding periphery colorectal cancer].

Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in macroscopic normal mucosa surrounding colorectal cancers (CRC); additionally, analyze tumor progression from ACF to CRC by means of beta-catenin and Ki-67 expression.

Methods: Twenty-one surgical specimens showing colorectal junction adenocarcinoma were included. Macroscopic normal mucosa proximal and distal to the primary tumor was sampled at a distance of 1 and 5 cm in both sides. A primary tumor sample was also retrieved. Eventually, ACF's were selected and immunohistochemical analysis of beta-catenin and Ki-67 were carried out.

Results: Among all adenocarcinoma samples, the frequency of positive â-catenin nuclear expression was 81%. The Ki-67 expression demonstrated the same percentage of positivity as did beta-catenin. However, the Kappa coefficient showed weak relationship between those two antibodies. Among 20 ACF's analyzed, 13 were located close (1 cm) to the tumor. None of the ACF's demonstrated nuclear expression of beta-catenin or Ki-67.

Conclusion: Higher concentrations of ACF's were observed in colonic mucosa at a distance of 1 cm compared to samples at 5 cm from the primary CRC. However, we could not demonstrate positive correlation between colonocytes beta-catenin expression and the occurrence of ACF's.