Stanniocalcin 2 Expression: A Significant Marker in the Prognosis of Colorectal Carcinoma

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Biomarkers that predict tumor behavior and prognosis were essential. Stanniocalcin-2 (STC2) was a glycoprotein hormone involved in tumor progression but its association with clinicopathological parameters in colorectal cancer needs to be studied. Objective: To evaluate the correlation of Stanniocalcin-2 expression with clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer including tumor grade, invasion, lymph node metastasis, perineural invasion, and disease prognosis. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at Life Care Molecular and Polymerase Chain Reaction Lab Services, Karachi in collaboration with Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College. 60 paraffin-embedded blocks from colorectal cancer patients diagnosed between January 2020 and December 2022 were included. 10 colonic biopsies negative for malignancy were taken as controls. Immunohistochemically analysis of Stanniocalcin-2 was compared with clinicopathological parameters including tumor grade, invasion, lymph node status, and perineural invasion. Statistical significance was calculated at a 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error. Results: Stanniocalcin-2 was significantly associated with higher tumor grade, invasion, lymph node metastasis, and perineural invasion (p<0.05). Strong stanniocalcin-2 expression was associated with poor disease prognosis and aggressive tumor behavior. Conclusions: Stanniocalcin-2 was a poor prognostic marker in colorectal carcinoma and was linked to aggressive tumor features. Stanniocalcin-2 can be a useful biomarker to predict disease progression and treatment strategy.