Livin、Caspase-3在结肠腺癌及结肠腺瘤组织中的表达及意义

目的探讨Livin、Caspase-3在结肠腺癌和结肠腺瘤组织中的表达及意义。方法应用免疫组织化学染色方法对89例结肠腺癌、50例结肠腺瘤和40例结肠正常黏膜组织(距癌边缘5 cm以外)进行Livin、Caspase-3检测。应用Western印迹检测方法对50例新鲜结肠腺癌、癌旁组织(距癌边缘5 cm以内)、结肠正常黏膜组织(距癌边缘5 cm以外)进行Livin、Caspase-3检测。结果结肠腺癌组织中Livin阳性率明显高于结肠腺瘤和结肠正常黏膜组织(P<0.05);结肠腺癌组织中Caspase-3阳性率明显低于结肠腺瘤和结肠正常黏膜组织(P<0.05);结肠腺瘤和结肠正常黏膜组织Livin、Caspase-3阳性率有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论 Livin、Caspase-3在结肠腺癌的发生及发展上起一定作用。     

结肠癌组织中细胞周期蛋白E和增殖细胞核抗原表达的研究

目的研究细胞周期蛋白E(CyclinE)和增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)在结肠癌组织中的表达及二者之间的关系。方法采用原位杂交法和免疫组化S-P法,对40例结肠癌、10例结肠腺瘤和10例结肠正常黏膜组织进行CyclinE mRNA和PCNA的检测。结果结肠癌组织中CyclinEmRNA的阳性表达率为62.5%,PCNA指数为(50.09±11.15),均显著高于结肠腺瘤和结肠正常组织(P<0.05);CyclinE mRNA表达阳性组的PCNA指数明显高于CyclinE mRNA阴性组(P<0.05);CyclinE mRNA与肿瘤的浸润深度、有无淋巴结转移密切相关(P<0.05),与肿瘤的分化程度、有无肝转移不相关(P>0.05);PCNA与肿瘤的浸润深度、分化程度及有无淋巴结转移密切相关(P<0.05),与有无肝转移无明显相关(P>0.05)。结论CyclinE可作为结肠癌的又一细胞增殖指标,其对结肠癌的发生、发展起重要作用。     

结肠癌及癌前病变组织中COX-2及VEGF的表达

目的: 探讨结肠癌及癌前病变中COX-2和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的表达意义.方法:应用免疫组织化学ABC法检测COX-2及VEGF在40例癌旁正常结肠黏膜和结肠癌、27例结肠腺瘤组织中COX-2和VEGF的表达.结果: 结肠腺瘤和结肠癌组COX-2阳性表达率明显高于癌旁正常结肠黏膜组(63.0%, 77.5% vs 0.0%, 0.0%;P<0.05). 结肠腺瘤和结肠癌组VEGF阳性表达率明显高于癌旁正常结肠黏膜组(70.4%, 80.0% vs 25.0%, 25.0%;P<0.05), 且二者表达有相关性(r = 0.411, P<0.01). 结论:COX-2和VEGF在结肠腺瘤及结肠癌中表达异常增高.     

Brgl在结肠癌中的表达研究

Brgl是一种抑癌基因,参与染色质重塑过程,在细胞增殖、分化过程中起重要作用。研究发现Brgl参与了某些恶性肿瘤的发生。目的：检测Brgl在结肠癌中的表达,初步探讨Brgl与结肠癌的关系。方法：应用免疫组化法检测30例结肠癌、30例结肠腺瘤、20例癌旁组织中Brgl的表达情况。结果：Brgl在结肠癌组织中的表达强度显著高于结肠腺瘤和癌旁组织（P〈0．05）,结肠腺瘤与癌旁组织中的表达强度差异无统计学意义（P=0．05）。Brgl在结肠癌、结肠腺瘤、癌旁组织中的阳性表达率分别为86．7％、60．0％、25．0％,结肠癌和结肠腺瘤组织Brgl阳性表达率显著高于癌旁组织（P〈0．05）,结肠癌组织Brgl阳性表达率显著高于结肠腺瘤组织（P〈0．05）。结论：Brgl可作为判断结肠肿瘤分化程度的生物学指标。     

人结肠癌中凋亡抑制基因Survivin的表达

背景:细胞增殖和凋亡失衡将导致肿瘤的发生,并直接影响肿瘤的生物学行为。survivin是一种新的凋亡抑制基因,在大多数肿瘤中显著高表达。目的:探讨survivin基因在人结肠癌发生、发展中的作用,及其与p53基因的表达和结肠癌生物学行为的关系。方法:采用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT鄄PCR)检测33例结肠癌组织及其相应癌旁组织和正常结肠黏膜中survivinmRNA和p53mRNA的表达,分析survivinmRNA的表达与p53mRNA的表达和结肠癌生物学行为的相关性。结果:69.7%的结肠癌组织中有survivinmRNA表达,表达率显著高于癌旁组织和正常结肠黏膜(42.4%和21.2%,P<0.01);survivin表达阴性癌组织的相应癌旁组织和正常结肠黏膜无一例有survivinmRNA表达。结肠癌组织中survivinmRNA的表达值显著高于癌旁组织和正常结肠黏膜(P<0.01)。33例结肠癌组织中仅2例p53mRNA表达缺失,癌旁组织和正常结肠黏膜中均有p53mRNA表达。结肠癌组织中p53mRNA的表达值与癌旁组织和正常结肠黏膜无显著差异;survivin表达阳性癌组织中p53mRNA的阳性表达率和表达值与survivin表达阴性组无显著差异。survivinmRNA和p53mRNA的表达与结肠癌的生物学行为无显著相关性。结论:survivin基因在人结肠癌组织中表达上调,提示其可能通过抑制结肠癌细胞凋亡,在结肠癌的发生、     

MTA1、RECK在结肠息肉癌变过程中的表达及意义

目的研究肿瘤转移相关基因(MTA)1、逆转诱导的富含半胱氨酸,含有kazal域的蛋白(RECK)在结肠息肉及结肠癌组织中的表达及其在结肠息肉癌变过程中的作用。方法应用免疫组织化学法(SABC)检测结肠癌组织104例、结肠息肉组织114例(绒毛状腺瘤44例,管状腺瘤70例)、正常结肠黏膜组织30例中MTA1、RECK基因表达。结果正常结肠组织、管状腺瘤、绒毛状腺瘤至结肠癌中MTA1阳性表达率呈逐渐上升趋势(P0.05);结肠息肉中重度异型增生组中MTA1的阳性表达率显著高于轻度异型增生组(P0.05);RECK在正常结肠组织、管状腺瘤、绒毛状腺瘤、结肠癌组中的阳性表达率分别为100%、78.57%、77.27%、53.85%。正常结肠组织、管状腺瘤、绒毛状腺瘤至结肠癌中RECK阳性表达率呈逐渐下降趋势;中重度异型增生结肠息肉中RECK阳性表达率明显低于轻度异型增生结肠息肉,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论结肠癌组织中MTA1呈高表达,RECK表达缺失。MTA1、RECK参与正常组织、癌前病变、癌组织的发生、发展,在结肠息肉的癌变过程中起重要作用。     

结肠癌组织中Bmi-1表达变化及意义

目的观察结肠癌组织中Bmi-1的表达变化,探讨其临床意义。方法采用免疫组化法检测64例接受根治性手术治疗的结肠癌患者结肠癌组织标本、瘤旁结肠上皮组织及淋巴结转移灶中的Bmi-1,并以5例结肠息肉标本为对照。分析患者临床病理资料与Bmi-1表达的相关性。结果 64例结肠癌标本中Bmi-1蛋白阳性表达率为62.5%(40/64),64例瘤旁结肠上皮组织中Bmi-1蛋白阳性表达率为12.5%(8/64)。与瘤旁结肠上皮组织相比,结肠癌标本中Bmi-1蛋白阳性表达率显著升高(P<0.05)。在结肠息肉组织中未见Bmi-1蛋白阳性表达。不同Dukes分期及病理分级的患者Bmi-1蛋白阳性表达率相比,P均<0.05。结论 Bmi-1蛋白在结肠癌组织中呈高表达,可能与肿瘤的进展有关。     

结肠癌组织中p53和凋亡相关基因bcl-2、bax的表达及其临床意义

组织芯片已广泛应用于恶性肿瘤的相关研究，但用于研究相关癌基因在结肠癌中表达变化的报道尚较少。目的：研究结肠癌、结肠腺瘤和癌旁结肠黏膜组织中p53和凋亡相关基因bcl-2、bax的表达及其临床意义。方法 取85例结肠癌、18例结肠腺瘤和9例癌旁结肠黏膜组织分别制成72点和104点两块组织芯片，以免疫组化方法检测芯片中p53、bel-2和bax的表达。结果：p53、bcl．2和bax在结肠癌、结肠腺瘤和癌旁结肠黏膜组织中的表达有显著差异（P〈0．01），p53、bel-2在结肠癌中的表达高于结肠腺瘤和癌旁结肠黏膜组织，bax在结肠癌中的表达低于结肠腺瘤和癌旁结肠黏膜组织。p53和bax在不同组织学分化程度结肠癌中的表达有显著差异（P〈0．01，P〈0．05），但两者之间无相关性（L=-0．081，P〉0．05），p53与bcl-2的表达呈正相关（rs=0．245，P〈0．01）。bcl-2的表达与结肠癌临床病理参数无关。结论：p53异常表达可能是结肠癌发生中的较晚期事件，bcl-2高表达和bax低表达可能参与了结肠癌的形成过程。bax低表达的结肠癌细胞更具有恶性分化潜能。     

MTA1、RECK在结肠息肉癌变过程中的表达及意义

目的研究MTA1、RECK在结肠息肉及结肠癌组织中的表达,探讨MTA1、RECK在结肠息肉癌变过程中的作用.方法应用免疫组织化学法检测结肠癌组织104例、结肠息肉组织114例,正常结肠黏膜组织30例中MTA1、RECK基因的表达.结果正常结肠组织、管状腺瘤、绒毛状腺瘤至结肠癌中MTA1阳性表达率呈逐渐上升趋势(P0.05);结肠息肉(中重度异型增生)组中MTA1的阳性表达率高于结肠息肉(轻度异型增生)组(P0.05);RECK在正常结肠组织、管状腺瘤、绒毛状腺瘤、结肠癌组中的表达率分别为100.00%、78.57%、77.27%、53.85%.正常结肠组织、管状腺瘤、绒毛状腺瘤至结肠癌中RECK阳性表达率呈逐渐下降趋势;中重度异型增生结肠息肉中RECK阳性表达率明显低于轻度异型增生结肠息肉,差异有统计学意义(P0.05).结论结肠癌组织中MTA1呈高表达,RECK表达缺失.MTA1、RECK参与正常组织、癌前病变、癌组织的发生、发展,在结肠息肉的癌变过程中起着重要的作用.     

TKTL1在结肠腺瘤、结肠癌中的表达及其临床意义

背景:各种肿瘤组织均有TKTL1表达,其表达水平与肿瘤侵袭转移和预后密切相关。目的:探讨TKTL1在结肠腺瘤、结肠癌中的表达及其临床意义。方法:选取2015年3月—2018年5月至淄博市第一医院行结肠镜检查证实的30例正常结肠黏膜、84例结肠腺瘤以及手术证实的84例结肠癌组织,以免疫组化法检测TKTL1蛋白表达,并分析TKTL1表达与结肠腺瘤、结肠癌临床病理参数的关系。结果:结肠腺瘤、结肠癌的TKTL1表达率显著高于正常结肠黏膜(57. 1%、85. 7%对13. 3%,P 0. 01),且结肠癌TKTL1表达率明显高于结肠腺瘤(P 0. 01)。TKTL1表达与结肠腺瘤患者的性别、年龄、病理类型和病理特征无关(P 0. 05)。TKTL1表达与结肠癌患者的性别、年龄、组织分化程度无关(P 0. 05),而与TNM分期、远处转移、淋巴结转移、浸润深度相关(P 0. 05)。结论:TKTL1在结肠腺瘤、结肠癌中的表达显著高于正常结肠组织,且与结肠癌分期、转移有相关性,推测TKTL1表达与结肠癌的发生、发展密切相关。     

Is Endoscopic Mucosal Resection a Sufficient Treatment for Low-Grade Gastric Epithelial Dysplasia?

Background/Aims

The rate of diagnosis of gastric adenoma has increased because esophagogastroduodenoscopy is being performed at an increasingly greater frequency. However, there are no treatment guidelines for low-grade dysplasia (LGD). To determine the appropriate treatment for LGD, we evaluated the risk factors associated with the categorical upgrade from LGD to high grade dysplasia (HGD)/early gastric cancer (EGC) and the risk factors for recurrence after endoscopic treatment.

Methods

We compared the complication rates, recurrence rates, and remnant lesions in 196 and 56 patients treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), respectively, by histologically confi rming low-grade gastric epithelial dysplasia.

Results

The en bloc resection rate was significantly lower in the EMR group (31.1%) compared with the ESD group (75.0%) (p<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed in the prevalence of remnant lesions or recurrence rate (p=0.911) of gastric adenoma. The progression of LGD to HGD or EGC caused an increase in the incidence of tumor lesions >1 cm with surface redness and depressions.

Conclusions

For the treatment of LGD, EMR resulted in a higher incidence of uncertain resection margins and a lower en bloc resection rate than ESD. However, there was no signifi cant difference in recurrence rate.     

结肠癌中骨桥蛋白与环氧化酶-2的表达及临床意义

目的研究骨桥蛋白(OPN)与环氧化酶-2(COX-2)在结肠癌组织中的表达水平,并探讨两者与结肠癌转移浸润的关系。方法应用免疫组化法检测60例结肠癌组织和16例癌旁正常组织中OPN与COX-2的表达,并用SPSS 16.0统计软件分析其表达水平与临床病理特征的关系及二者的表达相关性。结果 OPN在结肠癌组织中表达的阳性率(70.0%)高于癌旁正常结肠组织(18.8%),差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01);COX-2在结肠癌组织中表达的阳性率(75.0%)高于癌旁正常结肠组织(37.5%),差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01)。OPN和COX-2蛋白的表达与患者的性别、年龄、肿瘤大小无关,与肿瘤分期、淋巴结转移有关(P<0.05),OPN与COX-2蛋白在结肠癌组织中表达呈正相关。结论 OPN和COX-2在结肠癌的发生发展中起重要作用,联合检测可作为判断结肠癌恶性程度和预后的指标。     

Clinical Outcomes of Endoscopic Resection for Low-Grade Dysplasia and High-Grade Dysplasia on Gastric Pretreatment Biopsy: Korea ESD Study Group

Background/AimsSome cases of gastric low-grade dysplasia (LGD) and high-grade dysplasia (HGD) on forceps biopsy (FB) are diagnosed as gastric cancer (GC) after endoscopic resection (ER). This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of ER for gastric LGD and HGD on pretreatment FB and to identify the factors that predict pathologic upstaging to GC.MethodsPatients who underwent ER for LGD and HGD on pretreatment FB from March 2005 to February 2018 in 14 hospitals in South Korea were enrolled, and the patients’ medical records were reviewed retrospectively.ResultsThis study included 2,150 cases of LGD and 1,534 cases of HGD diagnosed by pretreatment FB. In total, 589 of 2,150 LGDs (27.4%) were diagnosed as GC after ER. Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking history, tumor location in the lower third of the stomach, tumor size >10 mm, depressed lesion, and ulceration significantly predicted GC. A total of 1,115 out of 1,534 HGDs (72.7%) were diagnosed with GC after ER. Previous history of GC, H. pylori infection, smoking history, tumor location in the lower third of the stomach, tumor size >10 mm, depressed lesion, and ulceration were significantly associated with GC. As the number of risk factors predicting GC increased in both LGD and HGD on pretreatment FB, the rate of upstaging to GC after ER increased.ConclusionsA substantial proportion of LGDs and HGDs on pretreatment FB were diagnosed as GC after ER. Accurate ER procedures such as endoscopic submucosal dissection should be recommended in cases of LGD and HGD with factors predicting pathologic upstaging to GC.     

MDM2与P14ARF在结肠肿瘤中的表达及意义

目的 探讨MDM2和P14ARF（alternative reading frame)在人结肠癌组织中的表达及其意义。方法 用免疫组织化学方法检测36例癌旁正常结肠组织，28例结肠腺瘤及42例结肠癌中二者的表达及其与组织分化程度的关系。结果 MDM2、P14ARF在癌旁正常结肠组织，结肠腺瘤，结肠腺癌中的阳性表达率分别为0、0、21．4％和100％、82．14％、80．95％。MDM2在结肠腺癌中的表达率明显高于癌旁正常结肠组织及腺瘤组织（P＜0．05），P14ARF在结肠腺瘤和结肠腺癌中的表达率均明显低于癌旁正常结肠组织（P＜0．05）。MDM2和P14ARF在不同分化程度结肠癌中的表达率分别为11．1％，24．0％，25．0％和88．9％、92．0％、37．5％。MDM2在不同分化程度结肠癌中的表达无明显差异（P＞0．05），而P14ARF在低分化结肠癌中的表达明显低于高分化和中等分化的结肠癌（P＜0．05）。结论 MDM2和P14ARF在人结肠癌中的表达异常可能与结肠癌的发生发展有关。     

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the Barrett's metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence

OBJECTIVE: Increased expression of the inducible cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) enzyme has been detected in esophageal and colonic adenocarcinoma, and intake of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, known COX-2 inhibitors, have been associated with reduced tumor formation. Elevated COX-2 mRNA but variable protein expression has been demonstrated in Barrett's epithelium, and we have, therefore, sought to evaluate the expression of COX-2 protein throughout the Barrett's metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded esophageal biopsies from 56 different patients with Barrett's esophagus were analyzed for COX-2 expression by immunohistochemistry. Twenty contained nondysplastic intestinal and gastric metaplasia, 12 demonstrated low-grade dysplasia (LGD), 12 high-grade dysplasia (HGD), and 12 contained invasive adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: Epithelial expression of COX-2 protein was detected in 75% (15/20) of benign cases, 83% (10/12) of cases with LGD, and 100% of cases with HGD or adenocarcinoma. Using a semiquantitative analysis, median staining scores for the groups were 2, 3, 14, and 13, respectively (scale 0-16), with the expression being significantly higher in the HGD and cancer groups compared to benign and LGD groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates clear COX-2 expression in the epithelial cells in Barrett's metaplasia, confirms elevated expression in adenocarcinoma, and shows that the elevation in expression occurs in the progression from LGD to HGD.     

Confusion and prospects for carcinogenesis of gastric adenoma and dysplasia: What is the correct answer currently?

There are differences in the diagnoses of superficial gastric lesions between Japan and other countries. In Japan, superficial gastric lesions are classified as adenoma or cancer. Conversely, outside Japan, the same lesion is classified as low-grade dysplasia (LGD), high-grade dysplasia, or invasive neoplasia. Gastric carcinogenesis occurs mostly de novo, and the adenoma-carcinoma sequence does not appear to be the main pathway of carcinogenesis. Superficial gastric tumors can be roughly divided into the APC mutation type and the TP53 mutation type, which are mutually exclusive. APC-type tumors have low malignancy and develop into LGD, whereas TP53-type tumors have high malignancy and are considered cancerous even if small. For lesions diagnosed as category 3 or 4 in the Vienna classification, it is desirable to perform complete en bloc resection by endoscopic submucosal dissection followed by staging. If there is lymphovascular or submucosal invasion after mucosal resection, additional surgical treatment of gastrectomy with lymph node dissection is required. In such cases, function-preserving curative gastrectomy guided by sentinel lymph node biopsy may be a good alternative.     

Progression of low-grade dysplasia to advanced neoplasia based on the location and morphology of dysplasia in ulcerative colitis patients with extensive colitis under colonoscopic surveillance

BackgroundThe management of low-grade dysplasia (LGD) in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients remains unclear.AimThe aim of our study was to study the risk of progression of LGD to advanced neoplasia (AN), defined as high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or colorectal cancer (CRC) for UC patients undergoing surveillance based on location and morphology of LGD.Methods997 UC patients underwent 3152 surveillance colonoscopies from 1998 to 2011. Kaplan–Meier estimates and incidence rates calculated.ResultsOf the 102 patients with LGD (65 raised and 37 flat), 5 (4.9%) patients progressed to AN (3 HGD and 2 CRC) after a median follow-up of 36 months (interquartile range 18–71 months). Initial location of dysplasia was in the proximal colon in 47, distal colon in 55 patients. Four of the 5 (80%) patients with AN had initial dysplasia in the distal colon. Distal colonic LGD had an incidence rate for AN of 2.1 cases per 100 person years at risk, while proximal LGD had an incidence of 0.5 cases per 100 person years. Flat LGD in the distal colon was more likely to progress to AN [hazard ratio = 3.6; 95% confidence interval, CI (1.3–10.6)]. Twenty of the 102 patients (15 flat and 5 raised) underwent colectomy: 2 (10%) had evidence of AN in colectomy (1 HGD and 1 CRC), 9 had LGD and remaining 9 did not have dysplasia.ConclusionsThe frequency of progression of LGD to AN is low. Flat dysplasia located in the distal colon is associated with a greater risk of progression to AN.     

基于Oncomine及TCGA数据集分析结肠肿瘤中HMGB1基因的表达及预后价值

目的研究结肠肿瘤中高迁移率族蛋白B1基因（HMGB1）的差异表达及预后价值。 方法从Oncomine及TCGA数据集中筛选出2 191例结肠肿瘤患者HMGB1基因表达数据及临床病理数据,采用Mann-Whitney U检验比较结肠癌与腺瘤、左半结肠癌与右半结肠癌、原位癌与浸润癌、黏液性腺癌与其他病理类型结肠癌、以及发生淋巴结转移与无淋巴结转移、发生远处转移与无远处转移结肠癌组织中HMGB1基因差异表达情况,并绘制Kaplan-Meier生存曲线。 结果HMGB1基因在结肠癌组织和腺瘤组织中均较正常结肠组织高表达（P<0.001）,在结肠癌组织中较结肠腺瘤组织中高表达,在左半结肠癌组织中较右半结肠癌高表达（P<0.05）,在黏液性腺癌组织中较其他病理类型低表达（P<0.05）,在浸润癌组织中较原位癌高表达（P<0.001）。有淋巴结转移及远处转移者较未转移者高表达（P<0.05）。HMGB1基因高表达提示更高的5年生存率（P=0.011）,尤其对于女性结肠癌患者（P=0.006）。 结论HMGB1基因可作为判断结肠癌浸润深度、淋巴转移、远处转移及预后的标志物。     

Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 in invasive early gastric cancer

Background Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), a proteolytic enzyme, is suspected to play an important role in the progression of various cancers. To clarify the clinical importance of MMP-7, we retrospectively analyzed MMP-7 expression in gastric epithelial tumors.Methods We tested 201 lesions (from 172 patients) of surgically or endoscopically resected gastric epithelial tumors (gastric cancer, 158 lesions; gastric adenoma, 32 lesions; hyperplastic polyp, 11 lesions). MMP-7 expression was immunohistochemically examined. Sections with immunostaining signals in more than 30% of tumor cells were judged to show positive expression.Results MMP-7 was expressed in 33.3% (67/201) of all lesions. MMP-7-positive tumors were significantly more frequent in diffuse-type adenocarcinomas (62.2%; 28/45) compared with intestinal-type lesions (31.9%; 36/113; P < 0.001). Cancers invading the submucosa or deeper (60.5%; 46/76) were showed positivity significantly more frequently than mucosal cancers (22.0%; 18/82; P < 0.001). MMP-7-positive lesions increased with the progression of gastric epithelial tumors, including adenomas, mucosal cancers, and cancers invading the submucosal layer or deeper (P < 0.001). MMP-7 expression occurred significantly more often in lymphatic invasion-positive cancers (65.1%; 41/63) than in lymphatic invasion-negative cancers (24.2%; 23/95; P < 0.001).Conclusions The MMP-7-positive rate increased with the progression of gastric epithelial tumors, such as adenoma, mucosal cancer, and cancer invading the submucosal layer or deeper. MMP-7 was significantly associated with aggressive pathological phenotypes of cancer. The detection of the MMP-7 protein may be useful in pretherapeutic diagnosis.