Relationship between matrix metalloproteinase-7 and pit pattern in early stage colorectal cancer.
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.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
Yuki
Y
Saitoh
Hideo
H
Yanai
Shingo
S
Higaki
Hiroaki
H
Nohara
Tomoharu
T
Yoshida
Kiwamu
K
Okita
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000236:Adenoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7