The expression levels of CDX2 mRNA was significantly lower in the CRC group in comparison to HP/adenoma and control groups, P<0.05, and showed a further decrease with a higher degree of TNM staging.
Among CpG loci with the largest difference in methylation between right- and left-colon adenomas, probes associated with PRAC (prostate cancer susceptibility candidate) gene showed hypermethylation in right-colon adenomas whereas those associated with CDX2 (caudal type homeobox transcription factor 2) showed hypermethylation in left-colon adenomas.
Loss of epithelial markers, (CK20, CDX2 and E-cadherin) and intense vimentin expression was observed in RCTs but neither in the normal mucosa or adenomas.
CDX2 has been considered to play a role as a tumor suppressor gene in colorectal cancer because its expression is lacking in colorectal carcinomas, but preserved in adenomas.