Expression of CXCR5, CXCL13, MMP-12 and MMP-13 in Colorectal Cancer and Their Significance

Objective To investigate the expression of CXCR5, CXCL13, MMP-12 and MMP-13, and to explore their relationship with clinicopathologic features and prognosis of colorectal carcinoma. Methods The immunohistochemistry staining method was used to detect the expression of CXCR5, CXCL13, MMP-12 and MMP-13 protein in 236 paired specimens of colorectal cancer and normal tissues and 62 cases of colorectal adenoma. Results The positive rates of CXCR5, CXCL13, MMP-12 and MMP-13 were 43.6%, 41.5%, 83.5% and 80.5% in colorectal carcinoma tissues, respectively, which were much higher than those in incisal edge normal intestinal mucosa tissues (4.2%, 5.5%, 11.9% and 13.1%) and those in colorectal adenomas tissues(24.2%, 17.7%, 69.4% and 64.5%) (P<0.05). The expression of CXCR5, CXCL13, MMP-12 and MMP-13 were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, TNM stage and relapse(P<0.05). Additionally, CXCL13 positive staining was correlated with poor differentiation(P<0.05). CXCR5 expression was significantly correlated with CXCL13 expression(P<0.05). The expression of CXCR5 and CXCL13 were positively correlated with MMP-12 and MMP-13, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion The expression of CXCR5，CXCL13，MMP-12 and MMP-13 may play a crucial role in the carcinogenesis, development, metastasis and relapse of colorectal cancer. They could be used as prognostic markers of colorectal cancer in clinical practice.