4.5 Article

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) prognostic value in stage I colorectal carcinoma

Journal

PATHOLOGY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
Volume 207, Issue 8, Pages 479-486

Publisher

ELSEVIER GMBH, URBAN & FISCHER VERLAG
DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2011.05.012

Keywords

Angiogenesis; Colorectal carcinoma; MMP-9; NGAL; Prognosis; Stage I; TNM

Categories

Funding

  1. AIRC (Associazione Italiana Ricerca Cancro)

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The expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been suggested to behave like a negative prognostic marker in stage I colorectal carcinoma. In the aim of clarifying whether its association with adverse outcome may descend from NGAL's ability to regulate matrix metallo-proteinase-9 (MMP-9), we analyzed the correlation, prognostic value, and association with neo-angiogenesis of NGAL and MMP-9 immunohistochemical expression in a series of stage I colorectal carcinomas. A variable NGAL immunoexpression was demonstrated in 17 of the 48 analyzed cases with a significantly higher frequency of positive cases among patients showing disease progression. NGAL expression was also positively correlated with VEGF expression detected in the same cases. MMP-9 immunostaining was present in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells in 30 cases; no significant correlations were evidenced with NGAL expression, as well as with the various clinico-pathological parameters or with progression of the colorectal carcinomas. By contrast, NGAL expression was confirmed as a significant independent negative prognostic marker related to a shorter disease-free survival in stage I colorectal carcinoma. Our preliminary results suggest that the association of NGAL with poor outcome might be independent from MMP-9 regulation, thus highlighting its prognostic value in this neoplasia. If our findings are confirmed in further analyses, NGAL assessment might be used in order to select those patients with a higher progression risk and to submit them to adjuvant therapies useful to prevent adverse outcome. (C) 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

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