Expression of histone deacetylase 1 and metastasis-associated protein 1 as prognostic factors in colon cancer

Histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) form the nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation (NuRD) complex and may possibly play a central role in cancer development. However, limited data has been reported regarding the expression of both HDAC1 and MTA1. The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical role of HDAC1 and MTA1 expression in colon cancer. Seventy-four patients with colon cancer, who underwent colectomy at our institution, were enrolled in this study. Expression of HDAC1 and MTA1 was examined immunohistochemically. The patients were divided into four groups: HDAC1-positive group (n=58), HDAC1-negative group (n=16), MTA1-positive group (n=38) and MTA1-negative group (n=36). Clinicopathological factors and survival rates were compared between the groups. Regarding the clinicopathological factors, the depth of tumor invasion and stage correlated significantly with HDAC1 expression (p<0.05). Age, depth of tumor invasion and vascular invasion tended to correlate with MTA1 expression. The 5-year survival rate in the HDAC1-positive group (55.1%) was significantly worse compared to the HDAC1-negative group (86.5%) (p<0.05), and the 5-year survival rate of the MTA1-positive group (50.5%) was significantly worse than that of the MTA1-negative group (73.1%) (p=0.05). In patients with stages II-IV and curability A, B, the survival rate in those with HDAC1-positive expression was significantly worse than those with HDAC1-negative expression (p<0.05), and the survival rate of the MTA1-positive group tended to be worse than that of the MTA1-negative group (p=0.07). Overall survival in both the HDAC1 and MTA1-positive groups was significantly worse than overall survival of the other groups (p<0.05). Disease-free survival in both the HDAC1- and MTA1-positive groups, among patients with stages II-IV and curability A, B, was also significantly worse than that of the other groups (p<0.05). HDAC1 and MTA1 expression levels were significantly related to poorer prognosis. Therefore, HDAC1 and MTA1 expression levels are potential prognostic indicators for colon cancer.