BACKGROUND: There is no study in the literature investigating the expression levels of WT1, p53, and IGF-1 in colon polyp subtypes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression levels of IGF-1, p53, and WT1 in colon polyp subtypes and to determine whether expression levels are correlated with each other.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Tissue specimens were obtained from 105 patients (80 men, 25 women; age range, 30–91 years) who underwent surgical resection for colorectal cancer (CRC) at Ordu University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology between January 2015 and 2017. Parameters such as age, sex, region of origin, and pathological diagnosis type were determined. The preparations were immunohistochemically stained with corresponding markers.

RESULTS: The results of the study showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between WT1 expression (negative – positive) in polyps and the place where the sample was taken (P=0.011). There is a positive relationship between P53 staining score (0–3) and positive frequency of IGF-1 (60.9–85.7%). There was a statistically significant change in P53 scores and location (P=0.006, p=0.015, respectively). As the P53 score of the polyps increased (0 to 3), the rate of adenomatous (34.8–78.4%) increased, so a positive relationship was found. WT1 and IGF-1 gene expression was associated with tumor location, p53 staining score, and sex.

CONCLUSIONS: WT1 and IGF-1 are appropriate markers for CRC, and WT1 expression in CRC primary tumors especially could be a novel independent marker for prognosis and tumor progression.

Keywords: Colonic Neoplasms, Genes, p53, Immunotherapy, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I, Wilms Tumor, Aged, 80 and over, colonic polyps, Promoter Regions, Genetic, RNA, Messenger, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53, WT1 Proteins