Variation in MT expression in early-stage depressed-type and polypoid-type colorectal tumours

Abstract Metallothionein (MT) expression is observed in various carcinomas, but its role is not fully understood. To clarify the clinicopathological significance of MT, 87 colorectal adenomas and 128 early-stage carcinomas were immunohistochemically analysed for MT expression. The degree of MT immunostaining of a specimen was graded according to the proportion of MT-positive cells; negative ( 50%). MT expression significantly decreased with tumour development. For carcinomas, MT-positivity was significantly associated with depth of invasion (T1 60% versus T2 33%; P P P P