Abstract:
Objective To detect the TFF1 and TFF3 expressions in colorectal cancer tissue, adjacent normal tissue, and lymph node metastases, and to evaluate their relationship with tumor occurrence and metastasis.
Methods The expressions of TFF1 and TFF3 were detected by immunohistochemistry (SP method) in 30 adjacent normal colorectal mucosa specimens, 65 colorectal adenocarcinoma specimens, and 25 metastatic lymph node specimens. The differences in the expression of TFF1 and TFF3 in different tissues were compared, and their correlation with the clinicopathological features and survival were analyzed.
Results The expression of TFF1 gradually increased along with the sequence of colorectal cancer tissue, adjacent normal tissue, and lymph node metastases (26.7%, 70.8%, and 96%, respectively; P < 0.05 in pairwise comparison). Unlike in normal adjacent tissue, the expressions of TFF1 decreased in colorectal cancer or metastatic lymph node (100% vs. 84.6% or 80%, P < 0.05). No statistical significance was observed between colorectal cancer and metastatic lymph node (P>0.05). Only differentiation related to TFF1 expression was observed (P < 0.05). TFF3 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (P < 0.05). A negative correlation was found between TFF3 and TFF1 expressions in colorectal cancer (r=-0.291, P=0.014). No association was found between the TFF1 expression levels and overall survival (P= 0.639), whereas the TFF3 expression level was correlated with survival (P=0.045). The Cox proportional hazards model showed that infiltration depth, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and pathological staging were the related factors affecting the prognosis through univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, pathological staging, and TFF3 were the influencing factors of prognosis.
Conclusion TFF1 and TFF3 expressions are closely related to the incidence, metastasis, and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Both can function together in the invasion and the metastasis of colorectal cancer.