Role of CTLA۴ and pSTAT۳ Immunostaining in Colorectal Carcinoma Prognosis and Treatment

Background & Objective: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-caused death worldwide and constitutes about ۶.۴۸% of all malignancies in Egypt. Studying the molecular profile of CRC is essential for developing targeted therapies. STAT۳ and CTLA۴ expression are among the molecular abnormalities claimed to cause CRC progression and chemo-resistance. Therefore, they could be used as potential therapeutic targets. This study aimed to evaluate pSTAT۳ and CTLA۴ expression levels and their possible roles as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in CRC using immunohistochemistry (IHC).Methods: This retrospective study included ۱۱۳ CRC patients. Tissue microarrays were constructed, followed by pSTAT۳ and CTLA۴ antibodies immunostaining. Their expression was assessed and compared with clinicopathological parameters and survival data.Results: Both pSTAT۳ and CTLA۴ overexpression were significantly associated with poor prognostic parameters, such as the presence of distant metastasis (P=۰.۰۲ & ۰.۰۳), high grade (P<۰.۰۰۱ & ۰.۰۳), high mitotic count (P<۰.۰۰۱ & ۰.۰۳), high tumor budding group (P=۰.۰۰۸ & ۰.۰۴), infiltrating tumor border (P<۰.۰۰۱ & ۰.۰۰۷) respectively, and advanced pathological stage with pSTAT۳ (P=۰.۰۲). A significant association was found between overexpression of both markers and short overall survival. Correlations between the H-score of pSTAT۳ and CTLA۴ in CRC showed a significant positive correlation (P<۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: STAT۳ and CTLA۴ positivity have been linked to the development and progression of CRC, and they may provide potential prognostic indicators and therapeutic targets for CRC patients.

کلیدواژه ها:

Colorectal carcinoma ، CTLA۴ ، Immunotherapy ، Prognosis ، pSTAT۳ ، Targeted therapy