Over-expression of human kallikrein 11 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with low rectal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to analyze the expression of human kallikrein 11 (hK11) in low rectal carcinoma (LRC) tissues, as well as its association with the clinicopathologic features of LRC patients and its prognostic significance.


METHODS
Between January 1998 and January 2003, 126 patients with LRC were randomized to receive laparoscopic-assisted abdominoperineal resection (APR). Their hK11 expression levels were examined by immunostaining on paraffin-embedded tumor specimens. Then the association of hK11 expression with clinicopathologic characteristics and patients' prognosis was analyzed.


RESULTS
The positive degree of immunohistochemical staining in cancerous tissues (1.86 +/- 0.02) was higher than that in the control group (1.18 +/- 0.11, P = 0.008). Strong positive hK11 staining associated significantly with various clinicopathologic features, such as Dukes Staging (P < 0.001), histological differentiation grade (P = 0.003), CEA level (P = 0.01), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001), and invasion depth (P = 0.002). Patients with weak hK11 positive expression showed better survival rates of 5-year follow-up than those with strong positive expression (80.85% for weak positive expression and 58.23% in strong positive expression, respectively; P < 0.01 for analyses). Using Cox regression analysis of the 126 patients, strong positive expression of hK11, Dukes Staging, lymph node metastasis, and invasion depth seemed to be independent prognostic indicators (P < 0.01, P = 0.02, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
hK11 may be another prognostic biomarker of LRC. Knowledge of hK11 expression in LRC tissues could contribute to the prediction of prognosis of LRC patients.
Yu
Xiao
X
Department of General Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Hunan Province, China. yuxiaoyx4@126.com
Tang
Hua Yong
HY
Li
Xiao Rong
XR
He
Xiao Wen
XW
Xiang
Kai Min
KM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C114880:trypsin-like serine protease; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases