We examined MUC1 and E-cadherin expression, cellular proliferation, and tumor vascularization at the deepest invasive portion of colorectal cancer in relation to prognosis. One hundred and ten surgically resected specimens of advanced colorectal carcinoma were studied. E-cadherin and MUC1 expression and Ki-67 labeling index (Ki-67 LI) were examined immunohistochemically at the site of deepest tumor invasion. Tumor vascularization was also examined immunohistochemically using anti-CD34 antibody to determine the microvessel count (MVC). In curative resection, patients with a high Ki-67 LI, reduced E-cadherin expression, MUC1-positive and high MVC lesion showed a significantly poorer prognosis than those with a low Ki-67 LI, E-cadherin normal, MUC1-negative and low MVC lesion, respectively. Furthermore, patients with both a high Ki-67 LI and MVC lesion showed a significantly poorer prognosis than those with other Ki-67 LI and MVC relations. Patients with both a MUC1-positive and E-cadherin reduced lesion showed a significantly poorer prognosis than those with both a MUC1-negative and E-cadherin normal lesion. The significant risk factors in order of poorer prognosis by the multivariate analysis among these factors including routinely used clinicopathologic factors were the high MVC, E-cadherin reduced expression, and lymph node metastasis. These findings indicate a high MVC at the site of deepest tumor invasion to be the most important predictor of colorectal cancer prognosis among the factors studied here.

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