Expression Of Musashi-1, CD44v6 And MMR In Colorectal Carcinoma

ObjectiveTo detect stem cell markers Musashi-1,CD44v6 and the mismatch repair genes hMSH2 and hMLH1 protein expression in colorectal carcinoma and normal colorectal tissues, the characteristics of Musashi-1+/CD44v6+and Musashi-1+/hMSH2+cells in colorectal carcinoma and normal colorectal tissues are observed; then combining the clinical and pathological features of each index and analysis the correlation of them. In order to investigate the relationship between stem cell markers and mismatch repair genes in colorectal carcinoma. It can be a foundation for further study of tumor stem cells and colorectal carcinoma molecular pathology mechanism.MethodsImmunohistochemical SP and double immunohistochemical SP-SAP were used to detect the expression of mismatch repair gene hMSH2,hMLH1 and stem cell markers Musashi-1,CD44v6 in colorectal carcinoma and normal colorectal tissues. To observe the characteristics of Musashi-1+/CD44v6+cells and Musashi-1+/hMSH2+cells in colorectal carcinoma and normal colorectal tissues.Results1. hMSH2 and hMLH1 protein expression deficiency has significant difference between in colorectal carcinoma tissues and normal colorectal tissues (p<0.05). The expression deficiency of hMSH2 and hMLH1 protein relates with the differentiation of cancer tissues (p<0.05). It has no relationship between the age and gender of patients,infiltration depth,lymph node metastasis and Dukes'staging.2. The expression of Musashi-1 and CD44v6 in colorectal carcinoma tissues is obviously higher than its in normal tissues; Musashi-1 and CD44v6 cells are scattered in the basement glands or focal distribution, the expression of Musashi-1 relates with differentiation,lymph node metastasis and Dukes'staging; the expression of CD44v6 relates with differentiation,infiltration depth,lymph node metastasis,size of tumor and Dukes'staging; Spearman rank correlation analysis shows that the correlation between Musashi-1 and CD44v6 is positive in carcinoma tissues (r=1.000, p=0.001).The number of Musashi-1 and CD44v6 double positive cells about 2-10% in colorectal carcinoma tissues, but it is just 0.01-0.1% in normal colorectal tissues; they settle along with glandular structures in the basement of focal or scattered. The number of double positive cells is negative correction with the degree of differentiation, the lower the differentiation and the higher strength and quantity.3. Musashi-1 and hMSH2 double positive cells are scattered in the basement glands or single cell distribution at basement of the foci in normal colorectal tissues; the number of double positive cells is just 0.01-0.1% in normal colorectal tissues. Musashi-1 and hMSH2 double positive cells are scattered in the basement glands or focal distribution in high or middle differentiation of colorectal carcinoma tissues. The number of double positive cells is no more than 5% in high differentiation of colorectal carcinoma tissues and it is no more than 2% in middle differentiation. It is rarely seen double positive cells in some middle and low differentiation of colorectal carcinoma. Spearman rank correlation analysis shows that the correlation between Musashi-1 and hMSH2 is negative in colorectal carcinoma tissues (r=-1.000, p=0.000)Conclusions1. The deficiency of hMSH2/hMLH1 protein relates with colorectal carcinoma. The MMR gene mutations may be one of the early events in development process in colorectal carcinoma.2. It shows that Musashi-1 and CD44v6 can be used as specific markers of colorectal tumor stem cells, whether the Musashi-1+/CD44v6+cells are tumor stem cell needs to study more.3. When the internal and external environment factors are changed may firstly transfer the adult stem cells into the cancer stem cells owing to the mismatch repairing gene mutations, and eventually result to colorectal carcinoma's occurring.