Abstract 3295: Plasma and tumor expression levels of progranulin osteopontin & matrix metalloproteinase 2 in colorectal cancer patients and assessment of plasma levels for diagnosis

Introduction: PGRN is a growth factor involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and pathological processes. OPN is an integrin binding phosphorylated glycoprotein involved in cell-mediated immunity, inflammation, cell survival, and tumor progression. MMP 2 is an extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling enzyme that breaks down the ECM and also facilitates cancer growth. OPN promotes ERK pathway and VEGF mediated tumor angiogenesis and progression. PGRN stimulates VEGF expression in breast cancer cells in vitro. This study’s goals were to assess: 1) preoperative (preOp) plasma PGRN, OPN and MMP 2 levels in CRC and benign pathology (BP) patients (pts.), 2) tumor mRNA expression, and 3) the diagnostic potential of these proteins. Method: CRC and BP bowel resection pts enrolled in an IRB approved tissue bank for whom preOp plasma was available were studied. Basic demographic, clinical, operative, and pathology data were evaluated. Plasma PGRN, OPN and MMP2 levels (ng/ml) were measured in duplicate via ELISA (results: median + 95%CI). Also, protein expression levels in tumors and paired normal tissue were determined for a subset of pts by QRT-PCR. CRC and BP plasma levels were compared by the Mann-Whitney test (significant