title: Maspin expression was involved in colorectal adenoma-adenocarcinoma sequence and liver metastasis of tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maspin, a serine protease inhibitor related to the serpin family, can inhibit invasion and metastasis of malignancies. This study aimed to explore the roles of maspin expression in the tumorigenesis and progression of colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Maspin expression was examined on tissue microarrays containing CRAs (n = 119), adjacent adenoma (n = 22), adjacent non-cancerous mucosa (n = 118) and metastases (n = 67) by immunostaining. Microvessel density (MVD) was determined after labeling with anti-CD34 antibody using immunnostaining. The maspin expression was compared with clinicopathological parameters of the tumors, including expression of p53, Ki-67 and tenascin, MVD, and survival data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maspin expression showed significant increase from colorectal non-cancerous mucosa to adenocarcinoma through adenoma (p < 0.05). Maspin expression correlated negatively with liver metastasis of CRA (p < 0.05), positively with tenascin expression (p < 0.05), but not with tumor size, depth of invasion, local invasion via vessels, lymph node metastasis, differentiation, expression of Ki-67 and p53 or MVD (p > 0.05). Maspin expression in the metastases of CRA was significantly consistent with their corresponding primary foci (p < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no significant relationship between maspin expression and survival time of carcinoma patients (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Up-regulated maspin expression was involved in colorectal adenoma-adenocarcinoma sequence. Low maspin expression is closely linked to the liver metastasis of CRA possibly through degradation of the extracellular matrix-tenascin to enhance carcinoma cell mobility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Huachuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuneyama
authors.forename: Chunmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Zhengguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murai
authors.forename: Kazhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nomoto
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takano
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D015843:Serpins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019063:Tenascin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C085344:SERPIN-B5; D015843:Serpins; D019063:Tenascin