Immunohistochemically detected high expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 as predictor of poor prognosis in Duke's B colon cancer.

AIM

To demonstrate immunohistochemical expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) protein in Duke's B colon cancer and determine its correlation with age, sex, grade, presence of vascular invasion, and patients' overall survival.

METHOD

The study took place from January 1995 to December 1997. We determined the expression of MMP-2 in 152 formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded specimens of Duke's B colon carcinomas by immunohistochemical analysis using MMP-2 monoclonal antibody. Immunohistochemical expression was scored semiquantitatively. Carcinomas were graded as low or high grade. Survival time was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was used to assess the differences between groups. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for multivariate survival analysis.

RESULT

Univariate analysis showed that positive staining for MMP-2, high histological grade, vascular invasion, male sex, and age>60 years were associated with shorter survival in patients with Duke's B colon cancer (P range from 0.023 to <0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that only MMP-2 overexpression (P<0.001; hazard ratio [HR]=3.64) and vascular invasion (P<0.001; HR=4.27) were associated with shorter overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Expression of MMP-2 is an important independent indicator of shorter survival in patients with Duke's B colon cancer and should be taken into consideration in decision-making on the use of adjuvant systemic therapy in patients with Duke's B colon cancer.