To investigate the correlation and expression of PTEN, matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9), and vascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C)in colorectal cancer.

The expression of PTEN, MMP-9 and VEGF-C in 102 cases of colorectal cancer tissues and 30 cases of normal colorectal tissues was detected using immunohistochemical SP method. Their correlations with cliniopathologic features were analyzed.

The positive expression of PTEN in colorectal cancer was significantly lower than that in the controls(54.9% vs 100%, P<0.01). Both MMP-9 and VEGF-C were over expressed compared with the controls(83.3% vs 21.7% and 69.6% vs 16.7% respectively, P<0.01). The expression of PTEN was negatively correlated with that of MMP-9 and VEGF-C, and the expression of MMP-9 was positively correlated with that of VEGF-C(P<0.05). The expressions of the three proteins in colorectal cancer tissues were not associated with age, gender, or tumor size. There were significant associations between the expression of these proteins and lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, differentiation, and TNM staging(P<0.05). The 1, 3 and 5-year survival rates of the patients with positive PTEN were significantly higher than those of the patients with negative PTEN(P<0.05). The 1, 3 and 5-year survival rates of the patients with positive MMP-9 and VEGF-C were significantly lower than those of the patients with negative MMP-9 and VEGF-C(P<0.05).

The decrease in the expression of PTEN and increase in MMP-9 and VEGF-C are closely correlated to the development of colorectal cancer.Their expressions may be favorable markers and useful prognostic indicators in the patients with colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer; PTEN; Matrix metalloproteinase-9; Vascular endothelial growth factor-C