The Relationship Between Cytokeratins 7 and 20 Expression, and Prognostic Factors in Colon Adenocarcinoma: An Immunohistochemical Study

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The role of synchronized expression pattern of cytokeratin (CK) 7 and CK20 in the prognosis of colon adenocarcinoma is unclear. The current study aimed at determining the relationship between the expression of cytokeratins 7 and 20 and prognostic factors in colon adenocarcinoma. METHODS: In the current cross sectional Study, 52 archival samples of colon adenocarcinoma with different histopathologic differentiation were examined immunohistochemically to analyze the expression of Ck7 and Ck20. The relationship between cytokeratin expression and prognostic factors, such as histopathologic differentiation, lymph node involvement, and depth of invasion, were assessed. RESULTS: CK7-/CK20+ was the most prevalent pattern in the current study. The difference among histopathologic grade, lymph node involvement, and depth of invasion in different CK7/CK20 expression patterns was insignificant (P=0.26, P=0.46, and P=0.22, respectively). CONCLUSION: No relationship was observed between CK7/CK20 expression and prognostic factors in colon adenocarcinoma, in the current study.