Abstract:

Objective To explore the expression and clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase ⁃ 2 （MMP⁃2），a disinterring and metalloproteinase 17（ADAM17）and epithelial cadherin E（E⁃cadherin）in colorectal cancer tissues. Methods The expression levels of MMP⁃2，ADAM17 and E⁃cadherin in cancer tissues specimens and adjacent tissues of 210 cases of colorectal cancer were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The expression levels of MMP⁃2，ADAM17 and E⁃cadherin and their relationship with clinicopathological features were analyzed，and the relationship between the three expression levels and prognosis was analyzed，and its corre⁃ lation was analyzed. Results The positive expression rate of MMP⁃2 in colorectal cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues（72.38% vs. 19.52%，P < 0.05）significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues［78.10%（164/210）vs. 5.24%，P < 0.05）］. The positive expression rate of E⁃cadherin in cancer tissues was significantly lower than that in adjacent tissues（41.90% vs. 96.67%，P < 0.05）. Western blot results showed that the protein expression levels of MMP ⁃ 2 and ADAM17 in cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues while the protein expression level of E⁃cadherin was signifi⁃ cantly lower than that in adjacent tissues（P < 0.05）. The positive expressions of MMP⁃2，ADAM17 and E⁃cadherin were associated with TNM stage，differentiation degree，lymph node metastasis and liver metastasis（P < 0.05）， and were not related to gender distribution，age，tumor size and location（P > 0.05）. The median survival time was 22 months（95% CI：20.87～23.58）and the 5⁃year survival rate was 53.42% in MMP⁃2 positive group，and median survival time was 31 months （95% CI：28.95～33.45）and the 5⁃year survival rate was 69.18% in MMP⁃2 negative group，and there was a statistical difference in the survival between the two groups（Log⁃rank χ2 = 4.98，P < 0.05）. The median survival time was 21 months（95% CI：19.93～22.86）and the 5⁃year survival rate was 50.77% in ADAM17 positive group，and the median survival time was 33 months（95% CI：30.48～36.40）and the 5⁃year survival rate was 65.52% in ADAM17 negative group，and there was a statistically significant difference in the survival between the two groups（Log⁃rank χ2 = 7.28，P < 0.05）. The median survival time was 30 months（95% CI： 27.88～31.32）and the 5⁃ year survival rate was 47.92% in E ⁃ cadherin positive group，and the median survival time was 16 months（95% CI：14.60～17.89）and the 5⁃year survival rate was 26.09% in E⁃cadherin negative group， and there was a statistically significant difference in the survival between the two groups（Log⁃rank χ2 = 44.23， P < 0.05）. Spearman correlation showed that MMP⁃2 expression was positively correlated with ADAM17 expression （P < 0.05），and MMP⁃2 expression was significantly negatively correlated with E⁃cadherin expression（P < 0.05）， and ADAM17 expression was significantly negatively correlated with E⁃cadherin expression（P < 0.05）. Conclusion The expression levels of MMP⁃2 and ADAM17 in colorectal cancer tissues are significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues while the expression level of E⁃cadherin in colorectal cancer tissues is significantly lower than that in adjacent tissues. Their expressions are related to clinical stage，differentiation degree，lymph node metastasis and liver metastasis. The expression levels of three proteins are closely related to the prognosis of patients，and the expression of MMP⁃2 is positively correlated with the expression of ADAM17 in colorectal cancer tissues. E⁃cadherin expression is significantly negatively correlated with the expressions of MMP⁃2 and ADAM17. The detec⁃ tion of three protein expression levels can be used as a marker for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and assessment 

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