Parallel overexpression and clinical significance of kallikrein-related peptidases 7 and 14 (KLK7KLK14) in colon cancer

Thromb Haemost. 2013 Apr;109(4):716-25. doi: 10.1160/TH12-07-0518. Epub 2012 Dec 6.

Abstract

Currently available colon cancer (CC) markers lack sensitivity and specificity. Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) present a new class of biomarkers under investigation for diverse diseases, including cancer. KLKs are co-expressed in various tissues participating in proteolytic cascades. KLK7 in human tumours facilitates metastasis by degrading components of the extracellular matrix. KLK14 promotes tumourigenesis by activating proteinase-activated receptors. In the present study we examined the concomitant expression of KLK7 and KLK14 in245 colonic tissue specimens from 175 patients; 70 were pairs of cancerous-normal tissues, 31 were cancerous tissues and 74 were colonic adenomas. We used quantitative real-time PCR and proved that both genes are up-regulated in CC at the mRNA level. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of our results showed that both genes have discriminatory value between CC and adenoma tissues, with KLK14 obtaining greater distinguishing power (area under the curve [AUC]=0.708 for KLK14; AUC=0.669 for KLK7). Current work showed that the two genes are fairly co-expressed in all three types of colon tissues examined (normal rs=0.667, p<0.001, adenomas rs=0.373, p=0.001, carcinomas rs=0.478, p<0.001). KLK14 is associated with shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients (p=0.003, p=0.016 respectively), whereas KLK7only with shorter DFS (p=0.004). KLK7 and KLK14 gene expression can be regarded as markers of poor prognosis for CC patients with discriminating power between CC and adenoma patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / enzymology
  • Adenoma / genetics*
  • Adenoma / mortality
  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Area Under Curve
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Carcinoma / enzymology
  • Carcinoma / genetics*
  • Carcinoma / mortality
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Colonic Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Kallikreins / genetics*
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • ROC Curve
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Time Factors
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • RNA, Messenger
  • KLK14 protein, human
  • KLK7 protein, human
  • Kallikreins