LEF-1 is frequently expressed in colorectal carcinoma and not in other gastrointestinal tract adenocarcinomas: an immunohistochemical survey of 602 gastrointestinal tract neoplasms

Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2014 Nov-Dec;22(10):728-34. doi: 10.1097/PAI.0000000000000109.

Abstract

LEF-1 is a DNA-binding protein that interacts with β-catenin and activates Wnt-responsive target genes. We analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of LEF-1 in 602 gastrointestinal and pancreatobiliary neoplasms in an attempt to (1) investigate the utility of LEF-1 immunohistochemistry as an ancillary marker in gastrointestinal/pancreatobiliary neoplasia, and (2) to perform a clinicopathologic and survival analysis of colorectal carcinoma stratified by LEF-1 expression. LEF-1 nuclear positivity was frequently identified in colorectal carcinoma (89/241, 37%) and only infrequently identified in other neoplasms: 11% esophagus/esophagogastric adenocarcinomas, 7% gastric adenocarcinomas, 1% pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, 4% pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, and in no cases of appendiceal mucinous neoplasms or pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms. LEF-1 expression was identified in 35% of colorectal carcinomas that lacked CK20 and CDX2 expression. In colorectal carcinomas, LEF-1-positive tumors more frequently harbored KRAS mutations compared with LEF-1-negative tumors (39% vs. 16%, P=0.005). Patients with moderate/strong LEF-1-positive colorectal carcinoma had a trend of worse overall survival compared with patients with colorectal carcinomas with weak/negative LEF-1 expression (5 y overall survival, 31% vs. 47%, P=0.15). In conclusion, LEF-1 is most commonly expressed in colorectal carcinoma and infrequently observed in the upper gastrointestinal tract and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. LEF-1 Immunohistochemistry may be especially useful as an ancillary diagnostic marker in colorectal carcinomas, which lack the expression of both CK20 and CDX2. LEF-1 expression is associated with the presence of KRAS mutations and may have prognostic value as a trend of worse overall survival is seen in patients with LEF-1-positive colorectal carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • CDX2 Transcription Factor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Keratin-20 / metabolism
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Prognosis
  • Protein Transport
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • ras Proteins / genetics
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CDX2 Transcription Factor
  • CDX2 protein, human
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • KRAS protein, human
  • KRT20 protein, human
  • Keratin-20
  • LEF1 protein, human
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • ras Proteins