title: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) prognostic value in stage I colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: The expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been suggested to behave like a negative prognostic marker in stage I colorectal carcinoma. In the aim of clarifying whether its association with adverse outcome may descend from NGAL's ability to regulate matrix metallo-proteinase-9 (MMP-9), we analyzed the correlation, prognostic value, and association with neo-angiogenesis of NGAL and MMP-9 immunohistochemical expression in a series of stage I colorectal carcinomas. A variable NGAL immunoexpression was demonstrated in 17 of the 48 analyzed cases with a significantly higher frequency of positive cases among patients showing disease progression. NGAL expression was also positively correlated with VEGF expression detected in the same cases. MMP-9 immunostaining was present in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells in 30 cases; no significant correlations were evidenced with NGAL expression, as well as with the various clinico-pathological parameters or with progression of the colorectal carcinomas. By contrast, NGAL expression was confirmed as a significant independent negative prognostic marker related to a shorter disease-free survival in stage I colorectal carcinoma. Our preliminary results suggest that the association of NGAL with poor outcome might be independent from MMP-9 regulation, thus highlighting its prognostic value in this neoplasia. If our findings are confirmed in further analyses, NGAL assessment might be used in order to select those patients with a higher progression risk and to submit them to adjuvant therapies useful to prevent adverse outcome.
authors: Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Italy. vbarresi@unime.it
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Barresi
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Reggiani-Bonetti
authors: Carmela
authors: C
authors: Di Gregorio
authors: Enrica
authors: E
authors: Vitarelli
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Ponz De Leon
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Barresi
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9