Clinical significance of MEK1 expression in colorectal cancer tissues

AIM:To investigate expression of MEK1 in colorectal cancer and its association with lymphatic and hepatic metastasis. METHODS:Immunohistochemistry was used to assay MEK1 expression in primary foci,normal colorectal mucosa,metastatic lymph modes and hepatic metastasis in 86 cases of colorectal cancer. RESULTS:The rates of MEK1 expression in primary foci,normal colon mucosa,lymphatic and hepatic metastasis were 52.3%,32.6%,71.4%,and 78.3% respectively. The positive rates of MEK1 in primary foci,lymphatic and hepatic metastasis were higher than that in normal mucosa (P0.01). According to TNM stage,the positive rate of MEK1 in stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ was higher than that in stage ⅠandⅡ(P0.01). And a higher rate of MEK1 expression was detected in low differentiation adenocarcinoma and mucus adenocarcinoma than in middle-high differentiation adenocarcinoma(P0.01). The accumulated three-year survival in group of MEK1 positive and negtive was 41.3% and 73.1%,respectively. And the difference between the groups was significant (P0.05). CONCLUSION:Enhanced expression of MEK1 in colorectal cancer was associated significantly with lymphatic and hepatic metastasis. Assaying MEK1 expression has a prognosic value for colorectal cancer patients.