The relationship of tumor budding with GOLPH3 expression and histopathological prognostic parameters in colorectal adenocarcinoma

Objective: Tumor budding is an independent poor prognostic parameter in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) has been investigated in many solid organ tumors and has been associated with poor prognosis. In this study, the relationship of tumor budding and GOLPH3 and histopathological prognostic markers was investigated.

Materials and methods: 140 colon resection materials diagnosed with adenocarcinoma between 2011 and 2018 were included in this study. Cases were reanalysed for their age, gender, tumor localization and size, histological grade, mucinous and signet ring cell differentiation, depth of invasion, lymphovascular and perineural invasion, stromal and intraepithelial tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL), Crohn-like lymphoid reaction, peritumoral lymphocytic response, overall lympocytic score and lymph node metastasis. GOLPH3 antibody was applied to the sections containing the most dense tumor budding. The relationship between tumor budding and GOLPH3 expression, histopathological parameters and overall survival time was evaluated.

Results: Tumor budding was detected in 72 (51.4%) of 140 tumors. There was correlation between tumor budding and localization, size, histological type and grade, lymphovascular and perineural invasion, there was no relation with GOLPH3 expression. GOLPH3 expression was positive in 106 (75.7%) of tumors. Significant correlations were found between GOLPH3 expression and signet ring cell differentiation, stromal TIL, peritumoral lymphocytic response and overall lymphocytic score.

Conclusion: Tumor budding and GOLPH3 expression are not correlated in CRC, but both are correlated to important prognostic histopathological parameters. In addition, tumor budding and GOLPH3 expression were not effective in overall survival, however, both parameters should be evaluated in a larger series.