Journal List > Korean J Gastroenterol > v.56(1) > 1006713

Ok, Kim, Kim, Ryu, Lee, Moon, and Kang: The Difference of Clinicopathologic Features according to Leptin Expression in Colorectal Adenoma

Abstract

Background/Aims

Colorectal adenoma and cancer are known to be associated with obesity. Leptin, an adipo-cyte-derived hormone that plays a crucial role in obesity has been suggested as a growth factor in colon cancer. However, the association between adenoma and leptin remains controversial. We evaluated the leptin expression in human colorectal adenoma and its correlation to clinicopathologic factors.

Methods

Leptin expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 91 samples of colorectal adenoma larger than 5 mm, which were removed by endoscopic polypectomy. All patients underwent colonoscopy for cancer screening at Seoul Paik Hospital from 2007 to 2008 and we only included the patients less than 50 years of age. Leptin expression and its relationship with clinicopathologic features were analyzed.

Results

Eighty samples were available for the interpretation of leptin expression and showed positive in 42 (52.5%) cases and negative in 38 (47.5%) cases. As body mass index (BMI) increased based on World Health Organization (WHO) classification the positivity of leptin expression also increased (p trend=0.02). In leptin positive group, the correlation of leptin expression with adenoma size and histological showed positive tendency without statistical significance.

Conclusions

Leptin expression of colorectal adenoma was associated with BMI. The question of whether leptin contributes to colorectal adenoma development is unresolved and will require additional studies.

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Fig. 1.
Immunohistochemical staining of leptin in colon adenomatous tissue. Leptin immunoreactivity was strongly identified in the cytoplasm of the colonic epithelial cells. (A) Positive leptin expression, (B) negative leptin expression (×200).
kjg-56-20f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Correlation between leptin expression and BMI. As BMI increased, the positivity of leptin expression increased (p trend=0.02). 1, BMI<18.5; 2, 18.5≤ BMI<25; 3, 25≤ BMI<30; 4, BMI≥30. BMI, body mass index; WHO, World Health Organization.∗ BMI category was divided by WHO classification of obesity. Chi-square test for linear trend.
kjg-56-20f2.tif
Table 1.
Clinicopathologic Variables of 80 Patients with Colorectal Adenoma
Variables N (%)
Sex Male 68 (85.0)
Female 12 (15.0)
Age (years) 42.4±5.3
BMI (kg/m2) 24.4±3.2
Leptin Positive 42 (52.5)
Negative 38 (47.5)
Polyp size (cm) 0.9±0.9
Polyp number 1.8±1.1
Location Left colon 47 (58.7)
Rectum 18 (22.5)
Sigmoid colon 21 (26.3)
Descending colon 8 (10.0)
Right colon 33 (41.2)
Transverse colon 3 (3.8)
Ascending colon 24 (30.0)
Cecum 6 (7.5)
Pathology Tubular 68 (85.0)
Villotubular 11 (13.8)
Villous 1 (1.3)
Dysplasia Low 43 (53.8)
Low to high 22 (27.5)
High 15 (18.8)
BMI, body mass index.

Data expressed as mean± SD.

Table 2.
Correlation between Leptin Expression and Clinicopathologic Variables
Variables Leptin expression, n (%) OR (95% CI) p-value
Negative Positive
BMI (kg/m2) <25 (n=42) 24 (57.1) 18 (42.9) 2.29 (0.93-5.61) 0.07
≥25 (n=38) 14 (36.8) 24 (63.1)
23.6±3.0 25.0±3.3 0.05
Gender Male (n=68) 31 (45.6) 37 (54.4) 0.60 (0.17-2.07) 0.61
Female (n=13) 7 (58.4) 5 (41.6)
Age ≤40 (n=26) 16 (61.6) 10 (38.4) 2.33 (0.89-6.07) 0.08
>40 (n=54) 22 (40.5) 32 (59.5)
41.7±5.2 43.1±5.38 0.24
Size <1 cm (n=47) 24 (51.1) 23 (48.9) 1.42 (0.58-3.47) 0.44
≥1 cm (n=33) 14 (42.4) 19 (57.6)
0.8±0.3 1.1±1.2 0.21
Number <3 (n=67) 30 (44.8) 37 (55.2) 0.50 (0.15-1.71) 0.27
≥3 (n=13) 8 (61.5) 5 (38.5)
Location Left (n=47) 24 (51.1) 23 (48.9) 1.42 (0.58-3.47) 0.44
Right (n=33) 14 (42.4) 19 (57.6)
Pathology Tubular (n=68) 32 (47.1) 36 (52.9) 0.53 (0.14-2.03) 0.35
Villotubular (n=11) 5 (45.5) 6 (54.5)
Villous (n=1) 1 (100) 0 (0)
Dysplasia Low (n=43) 22 (51.2) 21 (48.8) 1.46 (0.73-2.91) 0.28
Low to high (n=22) 11 (50) 11 (50)
High (n=15) 5 (33.3) 10 (66.7)

OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index.

Data expressed as mean± SD.

Table 3.
Multivariate Analysis of Leptin Expression for Clinicopathologic Variables of Patients with Colorectal Adenoma
Variables Coefficient OR 95% CI p-value
BMI 0.85 2.34 0.98 to 5.58 0.05
Age 0.73 2.08 0.78 to 5.57 0.15
Size 0.30 1.35 0.50 to 3.68 0.56
Pathology 0.79 0.45 0.13 to 1.63 0.22
Dysplasia grade 0.42 1.52 0.77 to 2.98 0.23
Polyp number 0.35 0.71 0.43 to 1.16 0.17
Location 0.13 1.14 0.41 to 3.20 0.80

OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index; WHO, World Health Organization.

Categories according to the WHO classification of obesity.

Categories according to the size of 1 cm.

Categories according to the left colon (rectum, sigmoid colon, descending colon) and the right colon (transverse colon, ascending colon, cecum).

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