Objective: To study CD10 expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and related effect on colorectal cancer initiation and progression. Methods: A total of 226 surgical removed colorectal cancer specimens were collected with patient follow-up data. A panel of immunohistochemical markers(CD10, Ki-67, p53, cyclin D1 and β-catenin) were evaluated in carcinomas, adjacent adenomas and paired normal colorectal mucosa with correlation of clinicopathological parameters. Results: CD10 expression was not detected in the normal colorectal mucosa by immunohistochemistry. The percentages of CD10 expression in CAF were 80.1% (181/226) in carcinoma tissue and 58.4% (132/226) in adjacent adenomas, respectively. SMA was positive and desmin was negative. The proliferation index of Ki-67 was 84.1%(190/226) in tumor tissue, 63.7%(144/226)in adenoma zone, and 7.1% (16/226) in the normal mucosa. The rate of p53 mutation was 50.4% (114/226)in tumor tissue, 53.1%(120/226)in adenoma and 8.8%(20/226)in the normal mucosa. The expression rate of cyclin D1 was 83.6%(189/226) in tumor tissue, 48.7%(110/226)in adenoma zone, but negative in the normal mucosa. For normal tissue, the percentages of β-catenin expression was 53.1%(120/226), 95.6%(216/226) and 10.6%(24/226) in the cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus, respectively.The β-catenin expression in cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus was 17.7%(40/226), 100.0% (226/226) and 49.1% (111/226), respectively, in the tumor cells. The expression of Ki-67, p53, cyclin D1 and β-catenin in the tumor cells was positively associated with CD10 in CAF (P<0.05). The CD10 expression was different in patients with different gender, age and differentiation degree (P<0.05), whereas the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and tumor emboli did not relate to it. Overall survival rates in CD10 negative group were higher than that in CD10 positive group. Conclusions: CD10 is only expressed in CAF. Significant correlation is found between CAF with high CD10 expression and neighboring tumor cells with p53, Ki-67 and cyclin D1 expression and nuclear β-catenin expression. CD10-positive CAF and p53, β-catenin, cyclin D1 and Ki-67-labelled colorectal cancer cells together with nuclear β-catenin expression may provide helps for diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma from an angle of tumor interstitial microenvironment. CAF with CD10 expression may promote the initiation and progression of colon cancer cells by activating Wnt signaling pathway.

	Year	Citations

About