Background

Serine protease inhibitor kazal type 1 (SPINK1) was highly expressed in many cancer types and in colon,SPINK1 was involved in inflammation-induced colon cancer, proliferation and carcinogenesis. In this study, SPINK1 proteinexpression in colorectal cancer specimens was evaluated and correlated its expression with clinicopathological variables.

Material and methods

Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections from 87 colorectal cancer specimens werestained with SPINK1 antibody using immunohistochemistry technique. Expression of SPINK1 was then analysed to evaluate itsassociation with clinicopathological variables.

Results

High SPINK1 protein expression was detected in 75 (86.2%) of CRC specimens and was significantly associated withlymph-vascular invasion (p < 0.001), and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.005), and advanced clinical stage (p= 0.003).

Conclusion

High SPINK1 protein expression is associated with lymph-vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis incolorectal cancer suggesting its role in invasion and metastases