Immunohistochemical Expression of IMP3 in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis of Its Relation to Metastasis, Recurrence, and Prognosis

Objectives: The protein Insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) maintains mRNA stability thus enabling cellular multiplication as well as cell movement. The medical community links tumor progression in different malignancies to IMP3 overexpression. Aims: This research examines Insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) expression patterns in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) tissue together with their impact on tumor properties as well as recurrence patterns and patient survival durations. Methods: The study examined 48 CRC patients after reviewing their follow-up reports along with histopathological data. The researchers performed immune staining of tumor tissue along with surrounding area using anti-IMP3 monoclonal antibody. An evaluation of IMP3 protein expression levels occurred between cancer cells and cells within the tumor stroma and this information was measured relative to common disease indicators as well as patient survival data. Results: Fourteen patients displayed IMP3 expression in tumor cells while ten patients and ten patients displayed IMP3 expression in tumor cells along with stromal cells respectively. Tumors displaying positive IMP3 in cancer cells demonstrated association with advanced Dukes stage and lymph node involvement, lymphovascular invasion and reduced both disease-free survival (39.87±9.25 months) and overall survival (43.79±9.27 months). Tumor cell IMP3 expression proved independent for survival prediction according to the multivariate analysis (HR = 4.96; p = 0.012). Results indicated that positivity of IMP3 markers within stromal tissue was directly associated with cancer recurrence occurrences. Conclusion: CRC patients often demonstrate high IMP3 expression levels which relates to increased chance of condition recurrence and decreased survival rates. Studying IMP3 represents both a promising candidate biomarker for assessment of patient risk levels as well as intervention aims. Limitations: The results of our study face limitations because the study used small numbers of participants in a single research center.