Specifically, normal colonic epithelium is characterised by E-cadherin expression but lack of N-cadherin and vimentin expression; adenocarcinoma is characterised by increased N-cadherin expression in a stepwise manner with advancing stage (Rosivatz et al, 2004), but minimal vimentin expression; and PMP has high expression of N-cadherin and reduced E-cadherin expression. Here, VIM is linked to adenocarcinoma.