The role of immunological markers in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
TL;DR
The hypothesis that the expression of selected markers is significantly increased in patients with CRC compared with healthy controls is tested and findings support the involvement of the investigated markers in the pathogenesis of CRC.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most common solid malignancies in the Western population. Despite advances in screening, diagnostics, and treatment, there are still no highly specific tests for early diagnosis or biomarkers that can reliably identify high-risk patients or monitor disease progression more effectively than currently established tumor markers. The pathogenesis of CRC is closely associated with chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. The present study focuses on several biomarkers selected based on available literature data and their close association with these processes. LOX-1 (lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1), RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products), HMGB1 (high mobility group box 1), and matrix metalloproteinase-19 (MMP-19) are involved in the regulation of inflammatory signaling pathways, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix degradation. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the expression of these markers is significantly increased in patients with CRC compared with healthy controls.
Methods
The study included intestinal tissue samples obtained from 34 patients with CRC and 21 control subjects who underwent intestinal resection at our institution for non-neoplastic and non-inflammatory conditions. In CRC patients, three tissue compartments were analyzed - macroscopically normal tissue, the tumor transition zone, and tumor tissue. Samples were processed using immunohistochemical methods, and marker positivity was assessed across several cellular populations.
Results
Statistically significant differences in the expression of selected markers were identified between the control group and patients with CRC. LOX-1 demonstrated increased expression in the epithelial and vascular structures of tumor tissue. RAGE expression was elevated in vascular structures and within the tumor transition zone, suggesting its involvement in the inflammatory tumor microenvironment. MMP-19 expression was most pronounced at the tumor-normal tissue interface, consistent with its role in extracellular matrix remodeling and tumor invasion.
Conclusions
Our findings support the involvement of the investigated markers in the pathogenesis of CRC. Their expression may contribute not only to a better understanding of CRC biology but also to the identification of potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.