Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 and type IV collagen Associated with Liver Metastasis in Human Colorectal Cancer: An Approach from immunohistochemistry

Masaichi Ogawa, Kenji Ikeuchi, Michiaki Watanabe, Yasushi Kaneko, Ken Etoh, Toru Fujikawa, Yoshihiko Takao, Sadao Anazawa and Yoji Yamazaki

Department od Surgery, The Jikei University School of Medicine

The significance of MMP-7 and type IV collagen expression in human colorectal cancer was investigated by immunohistochemical assay, and its correlation with liver metastasis was analyzed. In the synchronous metastasis group, 26 of 36 cases (72%) showed positive staining of MMP-7: 32 cases (89%) in the lymph channel, 28/32 (87%) in the vessel, and 19/32 (59%) a decreased rate of type IV collagen. In the metachronous metastasis group, 14 of 30 cases (47%) showed positive staining of MMP-7: 19 cases (63%) in the lymph channel, 13/19 (69%) in the vessel, and 10/19 (53%) a decreased rate of type IV collagen. In the control group, which is a 5-year disease-free group, in spite of no significant clinicopathological factors conpared with the other two groups, 17 of 37 cases (51%) showed positive staining of MMP-7: 12 cases (37%) in the lymph channel, 6/37 (18%) in the vessel, and 14/37 (38%) a decreased rate of type IV collagen. Thus the metastatic groups show significantly higher expression of MMP-7 in the lymph channel than the control group. The expression of MMP-7 in the lymph channel is the most useful paraneter to predict liver metastasis in colorectal cancer.

Key words
colorectal cancer, liver metastasis, immunohistochemistry, MMP-7, type IV collagen

Reprint requests
Masaichi Ogawa Department of Surgery 1, The Jikei University School of Medicine 3-25-8 Nishi-shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8461 JAPAN

Accepted
October 26, 1999

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