Higher expression of epidermal growth factor receptor is
associated with extracellular matrix metalloprotease inducer in colorectal
adenocarcinoma: Tissue microarray analysis of immunostaining score with
clinicopathological parameters
Affiliations: Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General
Hospital | Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal
Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital | Department of Physiology, Tri-Service General
Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan | Taipei Institute of Pathology, Taipei, Taiwan
Note: [] Corresponding author: Wei-Hwa Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Department of
Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, No.
325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Gong Road, Taipei, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 2 87923311, Ext.
16736; Fax: +886 2 26913324; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Aim: Extracellular matrix metalloprotease inducer (EMMPRIN)
expression was demonstrated in several cancers, but its expression profile in
colorectal cancers remains unclear. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was
reported to regulate EMMPRIN expression in human epithelial cancers. Our
purpose was to determine EMMPRIN expression and its relationship with EGFR in
colorectal cancers. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of EMMPRIN and EGFR was
performed in tissue microarray slides of 90 surgical specimens including 32
well differentiated, 35 moderately differentiated, and 23 poorly differentiated
colorectal adenocarcinomas. Results: All colorectal adenocarcinomas showed significant
immunohistochemical expression of EMMPRIN. The EMMPRIN scores in poorly
differentiated (303 ± 21) and moderately differentiated (326 ±
17) colorectal adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than in well
differentiated (166 ± 20) colorectal adenocarcinoma. EGFR expression was
mainly on the cell surface of tumor cells and the immunostaining scores of EGFR
were significantly associated with the advanced clinical T and N stages. A
significantly positive relationship between EMMPRIN and EGFR immunostaining
scores was also noted. Conclusions: Increased expression of EMMPRIN and EGFR in colorectal
adenocarcinomas is associated with clinicopathological parameters of advanced
colorectal adenocarcinoma stages. In addition, the data from this study support
the notion that EGFR expression may up-regulate EMMPRIN expression.
