Paneth Cell in Adenomas of the Distal Colorectum Is Inversely Associated with Synchronous Advanced Adenoma and Carcinoma

Recent studies have linked appearance of Paneth cells in colorectal adenomas to adenoma burden and male gender. However, the clinical importance of Paneth cells’ associations with synchronous advanced adenoma (AA) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is currently unclear. We performed a comprehensive case-control study using 1,900 colorectal adenomas including 785 from females, and 1,115 from males. We prospectively reviewed and recorded Paneth cell status in the colorectal adenomas consecutively collected between February 2014 and June 2015. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that, in contrast to the adenomas without Paneth cells, the Paneth cell-containing adenomas at distal colorectum were inversely associated with presence of a synchronous AA or CRC (odds ratio [OR] 0.39, P = 0.046), whereas no statistical significance was reached for Paneth cell-containing proximal colorectal adenomas (P = 0.33). Synchronous AA and CRC were significantly associated with older age (60 + versus <60 years, OR 1.60, P = 0.002), male gender (OR 1.42, P = 0.021), and a history of AA or CRC (OR 2.31, P < 0.001). However, synchronous CRC was not associated with Paneth cell status, or a history of AA or CRC. Paneth cell presence in the adenomas of distal colorectum may be a negative indicator for synchronous AA and CRC, and seems to warrant further studies.