Relationship between the Expression of the Extracellular Matrix Genes SPARC, SPP1, FN1, ITGA5 and ITGAV and Clinicopathological Parameters of Tumor Progression and Colorectal Cancer Dissemination

ECM gene expression did not correlate with classical prognostic factors for CRC, but overexpression of the ITGAV gene and protein was correlated with an increased risk of perineural invasion. The relationship between ITGAV and EGFR expression suggests the possibility of crosstalk in this signal pathway.