[Expression of Tcf-4, MMP7 and Survivin in Colorectal Cancer and Its Clinical Significance].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical and pathological significance and correlations among the xpressions of Tcf-4, MMP7 and survivin in colorectal cancer.

METHODS

The expressions of Tcf-4, MMP7 and survivin mRNA in tumor tissues and adjacent normal mucosa from 50 colorectal cancer patients were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The expressed proteins of Tcf-4, MMP7 and survivin were measured using mmunohistochemistry staining technique (Elivision) in 100 colorectal cancer samples and 60 normal mucosa tissue samples. We analyzed the correlations between those measurements and their associations with clinical and pathological characteristics.

RESULTS

Positive expressions of Tcf-4, MMP7 and survivin mRNA were found in both cancer and adjacent mucosa tissues, despite a higher level of expression in the cancer tissues (P < 0.01). Expressed proteins were detected in cancer tissues of 69.00% (69/100) of those with a positive Tcf-4 expression, 77.00% (77/100) of those with a positive MMP7 expression, and 65.00% (65/100) of those with a positive survivin expression. Compared with cancer tissues, lower levels of protein expression were found in normal mucosa tissues [16.67% (10/60) for Tcf-4, 13.33% (8/60) for MMP7 and 15.00% (9/60) for survivin, P < 0.01]. The expressions of Tcf-4, MMP7 and survivin were all associated with lymphatic metastasis and Dukes staging (P < 0.05). MMP7 expression was associated with depth of tumor invasion (P < 0.05). Survivin expression was associated with tumor differentiation. The Spearman rank correlation analyses showed that protein expressions in colorectal cancer tissues in those with a positive Tcf-4 were correlated with those with a positive MMP7 (r = 0.302) and those with a positive survivin (r = 0.279) (P < 0.01), but not in those with a positive MMP7 and those with a positive survivin (r = 0.097, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The expression levels of Tcf-4, MMP7 and survivin are high in colorectal cancer, all being linked to lymph node metastasis and Dukes stages of patients. This suggests that they may be involved in the occurrence, development, malignant growth and clinical progression of colorectal cancer.