Association of TWIST۱ mRNA Expression with the Clinicopathological Characteristics of the Colorectal Cancer Patients

Introduction: TWIST is a key role player in the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), which is determinative for tumor progression and metastasis. The main exploratory goal of this study was to access the association of TWIST۱ mRNA expression with clinical pathological parameters of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) patients.Materials and Methods: Seventy formalin-fixed/paraffin-embedded colorectal tumor specimens were evaluated for TWIST۱ mRNA expression by quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR).Results: The mean Relative Quantification (RQ) of TWIST۱ mRNA expression in the CRC patients was ۱۰.۵ ± ۲.۷ No significant association was observed between age (p = ۰.۷۸۶), gender (p = ۰.۱۶۳), tumor location (p = ۰.۳۰۰), tumor size (p = ۰.۴۳۸), and the TWIST۱ RQ. The mean value of TWIST۱ RQ was significantly (p = ۰.۰۴۰) higher in the patients with nodal invasion in comparison with the patients without nodal invasion. The subgroup of tumor specimens with T۳-۴ stages had significantly (p = ۰.۰۲۴) higher mean TWIST۱ RQ than T۱-۲ stage specimens. Moreover, the mean value of TWIST۱ RQ of the tumors with distant metastasis was significantly (p = ۰.۰۳۲) higher than tumors with no metastasis.Conclusions: Taking together, high TWIST۱ mRNA expression was associated with high nodal stage, advanced clinical stage, and distant metastasis. Therefore, TWIST۱ can be a biomarker for CRC patients.