Correlation of metastasis associated gene-1 and mammalian target of rapamycin expression with clinical pathology in rectal cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of metastasis associated gene-1 (mag-1) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in rectal cancer, and its correlation with clinical pathology. Methods The expressions of mag-1 and mTOR in 60 rectal cancer tissue, 30 adenoma tissues and 10 normal rectal tissues were detected by immunohistochemical method, and the correlation between the expression levels and rectal cancer clinical pathologic characteristics was discussed. Results The positive expression rates of mag-1 and mTOR in rectal cancer tissue were significantly higher than those in normal rectal tissue and adenoma tissue: 55% (33/60) vs. 1/10 and 27% (8/30), 58% (35/60) vs. 2/10 and 30% (9/30), and there were statistical differences (P 0.05). The correlation analysis result showed that the expressions of mag-1 and mTOR were positively correlated in rectal cancer tissue (r= 0.730, P<0.01). Conclusions The mag-1 and mTOR may correlate with invasion and metastasis in rectal cancer, and monitoring mag-1 and mTOR expression has a certain value for determining biological behavior of rectal cancer. Key words: Rectal neoplasms; Immunohistochemistry; Metastasis associated gene-1; Mammalian target of rapamycin