Expression of the lung resistance protein in primary colorectal carcinomas

To assess whether the lung resistance protein (LRP) is of clinical significance in colorectal carcinomas, we immunohistochemically determined LRP expression of colorectal carcinoma specimens (n = 68) by means of the monoclonal antibody LRP-56 and compared this expression with clinical parameters. LRP expression was negative in 7 (10%), low in 36 (52%) and high in 25 (38%) carcinomas. LRP expression was independent of histological grade, tumor size, lymph node involvement and distant metastasis. Survival of the patients with LRP-positive tumors was similar to the survival of patients with LRP-negative tumors. However, patients with high LRP expression in their carcinomas had a prolonged survival. Thus LRP is frequently expressed in colorectal carcinomas and high expression might indicate improved survival.