Maspin, a Marker of Serrated Colorectal Polyps

The serine proteinase inhibitor maspin is a tumor-suppressor protein that stimulates apoptosis and inhibits motility, invasion and cancer metastasis. Mutant maspin galvanises partial loss of tumor-suppressor function, reducing susceptibility to apoptosis and facilitating malignant progression. Mutant maspin has been reported in many tumor types. We recently analyzed maspin expression in 128 colorectal lesions: 39 hyperplastic polyps (HPs), 29 sessile serrated adenoma/polyps (SSA/Ps), three traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs), 20 conventional colorectal adenomas (CCRAs), 5 carcinomas evolving from CCRA, 12 active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), 2 ulcerative colitis (UC) in remission, 4 solitary ulcers (rectum) and 12 normal colorectal mucosa. The topographic distribution of maspin in the cytoplasm was classified into i) extensive, ii) focal, or iii) negative. The intensity of maspin expression in the cytoplasm was classified into i) unquestionable or ii) negative. Cases with faint (questionable) maspin expression were also recorded as negative. Extensive maspin expression was recorded in 95% (39/41) of the HPs, in 100% (29/29) of the SSA/Ps (including one carcinoma arising in a SSA/P), in 66% (2/3) of the TSAs, but only in 10% (2/20) of the CCRAs. None of the specimens with carcinoma arising in CCRA, with UC in remission or with solitary ulcer exhibited extensive maspin expression. Importantly, maspin was not expressed in the normal mucosa (including that adjacent to HP, SSA/P, TSA and CCRA). It is submitted that extensive maspin expression might be a manifestation of mutant maspin in lesions central to the serrated pathway of colorectal carcinogenesis.