Expression of CEA and P16 in Colorectal Cancer

ABSTRACT Colorectal cancer is any cancer that affects the colon or rectum which is known to be the most common malignant cancer in the GIT. The aim of this case controlled retrospective study is to determine the expression of CEA and p16 in normal colorectal tissues, colonic polyps and colorectal carcinoma. IHC analysis of the expression of CEA and P16 was performed on a total of 65 formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks including 15 normal colorectal tissues, 25 benign colonic polyps and 25 colorectal carcinoma were retrieved from pathology archives. Immunohistochemical analysis was carried out on the samples. The results obtained showed that nuclear CEA staining was expressed in which normal cases showed a positivity rate of 50%, colonic polyps showed a positivity rate of 90% and CRC showed a positivity rate of 100%. Staining of p16 was expressed in which normal cases showed a positivity rate of 20%, colonic polyps showed 70% and colorectal cancer showed 93%. A positive relationship between the degree of expression of CEA and p16 and the severity of the lesions in the progression of colorectal carcinoma was observed through this course of study. While these markers have been proven to be effective in predicting the progression of normal colorectal tissue to colorectal carcinoma based on their staining patterns, none of these markers can stand on its own to give fully definitive result and should be used in concordance with each other to compensate for their limitations and obtain relevant results