Expression and clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase-7 in colorectal cancer

Objective To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in primary colorectal cancer and their relationship with clinicopathological parameters. Methods The expression of MMP-7 was immunohistochemically analyzed using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens from 86 colorectal cancer patients who had undergone curative surgery. Results The cytoplasm of cancer cells at the invasive margin was diffusely stained for MMP-7 and positive expression rate of MMP-7 was 61.6%(53/86). Increased MMP-7 expression was significantly correlated with the depth of invasion, lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis and poor prognosis (P0.05 ). Compared with the cases of negative MMP-7 expression, the patients with positive MMP-7 expression had a significantly lower 5-year survival rate (P0.05). In multivariate analysis, lymph node metastasis independently correlates with liver metastasis (P=0.022 8), and increased MMP-7 expression seems to be an important risk factor for liver metastasis ( P=0.058 7 ). Conclusion MMP-7 expression at the invasive margin could be an important marker in predicting liver metastasis and poor prognosis after surgical treatment in patients with colorectal cancer.