Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7, laminin and type IV collagen-associated liver metastasis in human colorectal cancer: immunohistochemical approach.

Background/Aims: Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) plays an important role in vessel invasion and metastasis in human colorectal cancer. Methodology: The significance of MMP-7, laminin and type IV collagen expression in human colorectal cancer was investigated by immunohistochemical assay, and the correlation with liver metastasis was analyzed. Results: In a synchronous metastasis group, 26 of 36 cases (72%) showed positive staining of MMP-7: There were 32 cases (89%) in the lymph channel and 28/32 cases (87%) in the vessels, and 17/34 cases (50%) showed a positive rate of laminin. In the metachronous metastasis group, 14 of 30 cases (47%) showed positive staining of MMP-7: There were 19 cases (63%) in the lymph channel and 13/19 cases (69%) in the vessels, and 17/30 cases (57%) showed a positive rate of laminin. In the control group, which was a 5-year disease-free group, despite there being no significant clinicopathological factors compared with the other two groups, 17 of 37 cases (51%) showed positive staining of MMP-7: There were 12 cases (37%) in the lymph channel and 6 cases (18%) in the vessels, and 2/31 cases (5%) showed a positive rate of laminin. The expression of type IV collagen attenuated in 19 out of 32 cases (59%) in Group S, 10 out of 19 cases (53%) in Group M, and 14 out of 37 cases (38%) in Group C, with no significant differences among the groups. Thus, the metastatic groups were significantly higher than the control group in terms of expression of laminin and MMP-7 in the lymph channel. Conclusions: These findings suggest that laminin and the expression of MMP-7 in the lymph channel is a useful parameter for predicting liver metastasis.