Research of the relationship between ß-catenin and c-myc-mediated Wnt pathway and laterally spreading tumors occurrence.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the relationship between the occurrence of laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) and the activation of Wnt/β-catenin/c-myc pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 20 cases of colorectal polypoid adenomas (PAs) tissue sample, 20 cases of LSTs tissue sample and 20 cases of colorectal cancer tissue sample were acquired, and positive expression of Wnt/β-catenin/c-myc proteins were detected by immunohistochemical staining. In addition, relative expression levels of mRNA and protein were measured using RT-PCR and Western blotting method. RESULTS: The positive expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin/c-myc protein in the colorectal cancer group were higher than that in LST group, and the value of the PAs group was the lowest; differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The relative expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin/c-myc mRNA and protein in colorectal cancer group were higher than that in LST group, and the value of PAs group was the lowest; differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The activation level of the Wnt/β-catenin/c-myc pathway has a close relation to the occurrence and deterioration of LSTs.