Clinicopathological Significance Of Tenascin-C Expression In Colorectal Cancer

BackgroundTenascin-C(TNC)is an extracellular matrix protein that is involved in various tissue interactions during fetal development and oncogenesis.In the present study,we attempted to clarify the clinicopathological relevance of TNC in colorectal cancer(CRC).MethodsWe investigated the expression of TNC in 186 cases of CRC,26 cases of adenoma and 18 cases of normal colorectal mucosa tissues.Then,TNC expression with tumor clinicopathological parameters and survival rates of patients with CRC was performed.The current study also explored the expression of TNC,cancer associated fibroblast(CAF)marker(FSP1,SMA and Vimentin)and CD68 to the discuss the clinicopathlogical significance of TNC in the CRC.ResultsThe results demonstrated that TNC expression in the stroma(39.8%,74/186)was higher in CRC tissues than in non-neoplastic colon mucosa(5.6%,1/18)(P<0.001).TNC expression in cancer cells(P = 0.034)and stromal fibroblasts(P = 0.002)were found to be associated with tumor recurrence.Kaplan-Meier showed the patients with TNC-positive group in cancer cells(overall survival(OS):P = 0.007;disease-free survival(DFS):P = 0.004)and in stromal fibroblasts(OS:P<0.001;DFS:P<0.001)5 years survival rates was significantly lower than the TNC-negative group.Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the high expression of TNC in tumor cells and stromal fibroblasts was an important independent risk factor for OS(P<0.001)and DFS(P<0.001)in patients with CRC.In CRC stromal tissue,TNC expression was positively correlated to CAF markers such as fibroblast specific protein 1(FSP1)(P = 0.005)and smooth muscle actin(SMA)(P<0.001).Conclusion1.The over-expression of TNC is an poor prognosis factor to predict the recurrence and the 5 year survival rate in CRC.2.TNC may be a CAF marker of CRC.