The Expression of CD10 and CD15 Is Progressively Increased during Colorectal Cancer Development

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the expression of CD10 and CD15 in tumor cells, stromal cells and infiltrating inflammatory cells during colorectal carcinoma (CRC) development and to investigate their expression levels between the tumor center and invasive front and compare them to clinicopathological parameters in invasive CRC.

Methods: We performed immunohistochemical staining for CD10, CD15, and E-cadherin in 42 cases of CRC, 49 of tubular adenoma, 15 of hyperplastic polyp, and 17 of non-neoplastic colon.

Results: CD10 was expressed in tumor cells (tCD10), stromal cells (sCD10) and infiltrating inflammatory cells (iCD10), and CD15 was expressed in tumor cells (tCD15) and infiltrating inflammatory cells (iCD15). Their expressions were progressively increased during CRC development and the iCD10 expression level was significantly correlated with the iCD15 expression level in invasive CRC. Invasive front revealed a higher expression level of iCD10 and iCD15 than the tumor center. Moreover, the iCD15 expression level of invasive front was significantly correlated with the degree of tumor budding and tCD15 in whole tissue sections was closely associated with tumor depth.

Conclusions: The present study suggests that the expression of CD10 and CD15 is associated with the development and progression of CRC.

Keywords: Antigens, CD15; Colorectal neoplasms; Neprilysin.

Fig. 1

Immunohistochemical staining of CD10 (A-C, E) and CD15 (D, F) in representative invasive colorectal carcinoma. CD10 is expressed in tumor cells (A), stromal cells (B), and infiltrating inflammatory cells (C). (D) CD15 is also expressed in tumor cells and infiltrating inflammatory cells. The corresponding area is examined for CD10 (E) and CD15 (F) in inflammatory cells. CD10-expressing inflammatory cells (E) are mainly neutrophils and also show CD15 expression (F).

Fig. 2

The analysis of CD10 (A) and CD15 (B) expression during colorectal carcinoma (CRC) development. tCD10 expression level in invasive CRC is significantly higher than that of non-neoplastic diseases and low grade tubular adenomas (p<0.05), and there is an insignificant difference in its expression level among high grade tubular adenoma, intramucosal and invasive CRC. sCD10 expression level is significantly higher in invasive CRC compared to other diseases except for intramucosal CRC (p<0.05) and there is an insignificant difference in its expression level between high grade tubular adenoma and intramucosal CRC. In addition, both tCD10 and sCD10 in adenoma is not related to the degree of dysplasia. iCD10 expression is the highest in invasive CRC (p<0.05). tCD15 expression level is significantly higher in high grade tubular adenoma, intramucosal and invasive CRC than in non-neoplastic colon (p<0.05), and there is an insignificant difference in its expression level among neoplastic diseases. iCD15 expression level is significantly higher in invasive CRC than in non-neoplastic diseases and low grade tubular adenoma (p<0.05), there is an insignificant difference in its expression level among high grade tubular adenoma, intramucosal and invasive CRC. The numbers on the bar graphs indicate percentage.

Fig. 3

An analysis for the expression of sCD10, iCD10, and iCD15 in the tumor center and invasive front. The expression level of iCD10 and iCD15 is significantly higher in the invasive front than in the tumor center (^ap<0.05), however there is no significant difference in sCD10. Numbers on the bar graphs indicate percentage.

Fig. 4

Immunohistochemical staining of E-cadherin (A, C) and CD15 (B, D) in corresponding areas of invasive front in invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) and the relationship between tumor budding and the expression of sCD10, iCD10, and iCD15 in invasive CRC (E). Tumor infiltrating inflammatory cells with CD15 expression are more frequently seen in the invasive front with a high degree of tumor budding. There is a significant correlation between the number of tumor budding (NTB) and iCD15 expression of the invasive front (^ap<0.05). Numbers on the bar graphs indicate percentage.