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Up-regulation of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Colorectal Cancer Predicts Poor Patient Survival

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Abstract

Background

Lipocalin-2 (Lcn-2) is expressed in human neutrophils and epithelial cells, particularly in the presence of inflammation or cancer. It was shown to be highly expressed in various human cancers. Increased protein levels were associated with decreased survival of patients with breast or gastric cancer. The main focus of this work was to analyze the implication of Lcn-2 up-regulation in the genesis of colon cancer.

Methods

Expression of Lcn-2 was analyzed in colorectal carcinoma cell lines, paired colorectal carcinoma tissues, and regular mucosa by Western blot analysis. Lcn-2 immunohistochemical staining was performed in 192 colorectal carcinoma resection specimens and correlated with clinicopathologic parameters.

Results

Western blot analysis of colorectal carcinoma tissues demonstrated Lcn-2 overexpression in carcinomas as compared with regular mucosa. Immunohistochemical staining revealed Lcn-2 expression in 179 (93.2 %) colorectal carcinoma tissues. Intense immunoreactivity was significantly correlated with metastasis (p = 0.042) and UICC stage (p = 0.027). Survival analysis according to the Kaplan–Meier method revealed a significant association between Lcn-2 overexpressing tumors and overall survival (p < 0.001) and disease-free survival (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our data provide evidence that Lcn-2 expression is up-regulated with tumor progression and was found to be a predictor of overall survival.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Martin Heitz, Jakob Troppmair, Hubert Schwelberger, and Dietmar Oefner for technical support. H.T. Maier is supported by grants from Österreichische Krebshilfe, Gesellschaft Tirol.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, 35 Anichstrasse, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Herbert Thomas Maier, Felix Aigner, Matthias Zitt, Natalie Vallant, Alexander Perathoner, Christian Margreiter & Johann Pratschke

  2. Daniel-Swarovski-Research Laboratory, Department of Visceral, Transplant, and Thoracic Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, 35 Anichstrasse, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Herbert Thomas Maier, Felix Aigner, Natalie Vallant & Johann Pratschke

  3. Tyrolean Cancer Research Institute, Innsbruck Medical University, 35 Anichstrasse, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Birgit Trenkwalder & Albert Amberger

  4. Department of Pathology, Innsbruck Medical University, 35 Anichstrasse, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Patrizia Moser

  5. Division of Human Genetics, Innsbruck Medical University, 35 Anichstrasse, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Albert Amberger

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  1. Herbert Thomas Maier
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Correspondence to Felix Aigner.

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Maier, H.T., Aigner, F., Trenkwalder, B. et al. Up-regulation of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Colorectal Cancer Predicts Poor Patient Survival. World J Surg 38, 2160–2167 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-014-2499-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-014-2499-x

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