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Published on: July 29, 2010
Relationship between matrix metalloproteinase-7 and pit pattern in early stage colorectal cancer
Yuki Saitoh1, Hideo Yanai, Shingo Higaki
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
Background:
The surface pit pattern of early stage colorectal cancer changes with tumor growth and invasion. It was postulated by us that the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 is related to tumor invasiveness and disturbance of the pit pattern.
Methods:
Sixty-eight colorectal epithelial tumors were examined, and the pit pattern was classified by stereoscopic microscopy. Immunostaining for matrix metalloproteinase-7 and its substrate laminin were performed.
Results:
The rate of matrix metalloproteinase-7 positive staining was significantly higher for mucosal (70.6%) and submucosal cancer (80.0%) than for adenoma (18.6%) (p<0.0083). The rate of matrix metalloproteinase-7 positive specimens was significantly higher for type IV and type V compared with type III pit patterns. Where the tumor surface was positive for matrix metalloproteinase-7, expression of laminin was negative in 40% of specimens with a type IV pit pattern and 100% of those with the type V pit pattern.
Conclusions:
The results of this study indicate that expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 is related to both the invasiveness of colorectal epithelial tumors and the disturbance of the pit pattern on the tumor surface.
