Protein And Genomic Study On Molecular Signature (OPN, N-cadherin And MMP-9) Of Rectal Cancer

Despite significant advances in the management of the colorectal caner patient, little change in survival rates has been appreciated over the past 50 years. The precise genes and the associated molecular pathways underlying the development of invasion and metastasis in colorectal cancer are still poorly understood. There is an increasing demand for biomarkers in colorectal cancer for early detection, prognosis, and risk assessment. The role of adhesion and matrix-degrading molecular such as OPN(osteopontin), N-cadherin, and MMP-9 is more and more important in the development of tumor invasion and metastasis.In order to explore the clinical significance of OPN, N-cadherin, and MMP-9 protein expression in rectal cancer, 80 cases of rectal cancer were studied with immunohistochemical two steps technique. It was found that the expressive rate of OPN, N-cadherin, and MMP-9 of rectal cancer was 60%, 41.25%, and 60% respectively. The expression of OPN, N-cadherin, and MMP-9 in the patients of Dukes'A-B grade was significantly lower than that of Dukes'C-D grade and the expression in the patients with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that with no lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The mean survival time and 5-year survival rate in cases with positive OPN, N-cadherin, and MMP-9 expression were significantly shorter than that of cases with negative expression(P<0.01). The expression of OPN, N-cadherin, and MMP-9 was closely related to rectal cancer, and would be a valuable prognostic marker.In order to learn the clinical significance of OPN, N-cadherin, and MMP-9 mRNA expression in rectal cancer, 30 cases of rectal cancer were investigated by real-time PCR. It was found that the expressive rate of OPN, N-cadherin, and MMP-9 mRNA of rectal cancer and surrounding normal tissues was 100%.The relative average value of OPN, N-cadherin, and MMP-9 mRNA in rectal cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in surrounding normal tissues(P<0.01 )and the expression value in the patients with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that with no lymph...