Positive Expression of LSD1 and Negative Expression of E-cadherin Correlate with Metastasis and Poor Prognosis of Colon Cancer

Background The first identified lysine-specific demethylase, LSD1, plays an important role in the metastatic progression of several types of cancer. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate LSD1, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin expression in colon cancer specimens and their clinical significance. Methods The expression of LSD1, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin in colon cancer specimens was determined by immunohistochemistry, and the relationship between the expression of the respective molecules and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed. Results The positive expression rates of LSD1, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin in colon cancer specimens were 66.7 % (72/108), 85.2 % (92/108), and 41.7 % (45/108), respectively. LSD1 was significantly more highly expressed in colon cancer specimens classified as high TNM stage lesions and with distant metastasis (P < 0.05). Further analysis demonstrated that LSD1 expression was positively correlated with lymph node and distant metastases (P < 0.05). However, E-cadherin expression was significantly downregulated in colon cancer specimens classified as high TNM stage lesions and with distant metastasis (P < 0.05), whereas the expression of N-cadherin did not differ significantly according to clinical and pathological characteristics (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that LSD1 expression was negatively correlated with E-cadherin expression (r(s) = -0.318, P = 0.001), but not evidently correlated with N-cadherin expression (r(s) = 0.182, P = 0.06). Colon cancer specimens with positive LSD1 expression and negative E-cadherin expression were correlated with significantly lower overall survival. Conclusions LSD1 showed a significantly higher expression, in contrast to the significantly lower expression of E-cadherin, in colon cancer specimens classified as high TNM stage lesions and with distant metastasis. Positive expression of LSD1 and negative expression of E-cadherin may be predictors of a worse colon cancer prognosis.