Expression and significance of RECK, metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor-C in colorectal cancer

Abstract

To investigate the expression of reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in colorectal cancer. S-P immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of RECK, MMP-9 and VEGF-C in colorectal cancer specimen. Colorectal mucosal tissue at least 10 cm away from the tumor was used as control. The positive expression of RECK in colorectal cancer was significantly lower than that in the controls(53.3% vs. 100%, P<0.05). Both MMP-9 and VEGF-C were over expressed compared with the controls(86.7% vs. 23.3% and 71.7% vs. 13.3% respectively, P<0.01). The expression of RECK was negatively correlated with that of MMP-9 and VEGF-C, and the expression of MMP-9 was positively correlated with that of VEGF-C. There were significant associations between the expression of these proteins and lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and TNM staging (all P<0.05). RECK expression is low in colorectal cancer, while MMP-9 and VEGF-C expressions are high. Combined testing of these 3 markers is important in the evaluation of tumor metastasis and invasion, and is helpful in the prediction of the prognosis.