mRNA in situ Hybridization Analysis of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 in Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a major global health problem. The aim of the current study is to determine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase -1 (MMP-1), in colorectal cancer patients using in situ hybridization technique, formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissue sections.

            Thirty colorectal cancer patients were obtained from the archive of the pathology laboratory of Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital from January 2013 to July 2014. In addition to, formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections of twenty normal colon tissues were collected and used as a control group. Each tissue block was subjected to cut as serial thin sections of (4μm) thickness and then fixed on positive charged slides, to be used for In situ hybridization for the evaluation of MMP-1 and VEGF expression.

            A highly significant difference (p<0.01) was noted in the mean percentage of MMP-1 and VEGF mRNA in situ expression respectively between the colorectal cancer group and control group. The study revealed a highly significant positive correlation (P<0.01) between MMP-1 and VEGF expression in colorectal cancer group. In conclusion, abnormal high expressions of VEGF and MMP-1 may represent the early molecular changes in the development of colorectal cancer