title: Lack of Association between Membrane-Type 1 Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression and Clinically Relevant Molecular or Morphologic Tumor Characteristics at the Leading Edge of Invasive Colorectal Carcinoma.
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of death from cancer in the western world, but tumor biology and clinical course show great interindividual variation. Molecular and morphologic tumor characteristics, such as KRAS/BRAF mutation status, mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression, tumor growth pattern, and tumor cell budding, have been shown to be of key therapeutic and/or prognostic relevance in CRC. Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is a membrane-anchored zinc-binding endopeptidase that is expressed at the leading edge of various invasive carcinomas and promotes tumor cell invasion through degradation of the extracellular matrix. The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations between MT1-MMP expression and molecular tumor characteristics as well as morphologic features of tumor aggressiveness in a consecutive series of 79 CRC tissue samples. However, although MT1-MMP was expressed in 41/79 samples (52%), there was no significant association between MT1-MMP expression and KRAS/BRAF mutation status, MMR protein expression, presence of lymphovascular invasion, tumor growth pattern, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, or tumor cell budding in our sample cohort (P > 0.05). Thus, we conclude that although MT1-MMP may play a role in CRC invasion, it is not of key relevance to the current models of CRC invasion and aggressiveness.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.affiliation: Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wardelmann
authors.affiliation: Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steinestel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C117307:KRAS protein, human; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)