The expression of multiple proteins as prognostic factors in colorectal cancer: cathepsin D, p53, COX-2, epidermal growth factor receptor, C-erbB-2, and Ki-67

• Published in: Gut and liver Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 13 - 23
• Main Authors: Shin, Il Yong, Sung, Na Young, Lee, Youn Soo, Kwon, Taek Soo, Si, Yoon, Lee, Yoon Suk, Oh, Seong Taek, Lee, In Kyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Society of Gastroenterology; the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy; the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver; the Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility; Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases; Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research; Korean Pancreatobiliary Association; Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Cancer 01.01.2014; Gastroenterology Council for Gut and Liver; 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - pathology; Adult; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; cathepsin d; Cathepsin D - analysis; colorectal neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Cyclooxygenase 2 - analysis; Female; Humans; Ki-67 Antigen - analysis; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Prognosis; prognostic factors; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - analysis; Receptor, ErbB-2 - analysis; Survival Analysis; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - analysis; 내과학; Cathepsin D; Prognostic factors; Colorectal neoplasms
• ISSN: 1976-2283; 2005-1212
• DOI: 10.5009/gnl.2014.8.1.13

A single gene mutation alone cannot explain the poor prognosis of colorectal cancer. This study aimed to establish a correlation between the expression of six proteins and the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. Tissue samples were collected from 266 patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer at our institution from January 2006 to December 2007. The expression of six proteins were determined using immunohistochemical staining of specimens. Cathepsin D, p53, COX-2, epidermal growth factor receptor, c-erbB-2, and Ki-67 expression were detected in 38.7%, 60.9%, 37.6%, 35.7%, 30.1%, and 74.4% of the samples, respectively. The expression of cathepsin D was significantly correlated with reduced cancer-free survival (p=0.036) and colorectal cancer-specific survival (p=0.003), but the other expression levels were not. In a multivariate analysis, cathepsin D expression was found to be an independent prognostic factor for poorer colorectal cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio, 8.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 68.49). Furthermore, patients with tumors expressing four or more of the proteins had a significantly decreased cancer-free survival rate (p=0.006) and colorectal cancer-specific survival rate (p=0.002). Patients with cathepsin D positivity had a poorer outcome than patients who were cathepsin D-negative. Thus, cathepsin D may provide an indicator for appropriate intensive follow-up and adjuvant chemotherapy.