Abstract:

[Abstract] Objective  To observe the expression of Neuropilin (NRP)-1, 2, to calculate micro vessel density (MVD) in colorectal cancer, paraneoplastic tissues, normal tissues, and to investigate the correlation between NRP-1, 2 and MVD to understand the role of NRP-1, 2 in the process of tumor angiogenesis. Methods  Expression of NRP-1 and NRP-2 were studied by immunohistochemistry in 66 specimens from colorectal cancer, paraneoplastic tissues and normal tissues. MVD was assessed based on CD105 immunohistochical staining. Results  (1) The positive expression of NRP-1, 2 in colorectal cancer, paraneoplastic tissues, normal tissues were 71.2%, 25.8%, 0; 80.3%, 15.2%, 0 respectively. There was a statistical difference between them (P＜0.05). (2)The quantity of MVD in colorectal cancer, paraneoplastic tissues and normal tissues were 35.682±5.542, 14.485±3.301 and 6.864±1.771 respectively. There was a statistical difference between them (P＜0.05). (3) Expression of NRP-1, 2 had a good correlation with the tumor size, infiltrating depth, lymph node metastasis, Dukes stag? ing (P＜0.05), but no correlation was found with the tumor position, histological types, differentiation degree and the gender or age of patients (P＞0.05). (4) The MVD value had no correlation with the gender or age of patients, tumor size, position, histological types (P＞0.05), but had a good correlation with infiltrating depth, lymphatic metastasis and Dukes staging (P＜ 0.05). (5) There was a positive correlation between NRP-1, 2 and MVD value  (P＜0.01). Conclusion  NRP-1, 2 may play an important role in the angiogenesis of the colorectal cancer, and it correlates with the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer closely.

Key words: colorectal carcinoma, neuropilins, Microvessel density, Immunohistochemistry, colorectal neoplasms, vascular endothelial cell, tumor angiogenesis