High expression of ADAMTS5 is a potent marker for lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer.

Members of the ADAMTS family contain propeptide, metalloproteinase and disintegrin domains and serve key roles for cancer cell proliferation, progression and metastasis. Although overexpression of ADAMTS5 has been reported in glioblastoma, and head and neck cancer, little has been demonstrated in colorectal cancer types. The present study aimed to clarify the significance of ADAMTS5 for clinicopathological factors and prognosis in colorectal cancer. The mRNA expression of ADAMTS5 was measured in 143 colorectal cancer specimens. ADAMTS5 expression was increased as the pathological stage increased. The expression of ADAMTS5 in stage III-IV colorectal cancer was significantly greater compared with that of stage 0-II colorectal cancer (P=0.0003). The median expression of ADAMTS5 was used to divide the ADAMTS5 higher expressing group and the ADAMTS5 lower expressing group to assess the correlation of ADAMTS5 expression with clinicopathological factors and prognosis. The proportions of lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis were significantly greater in the ADAMTS5 higher expressing group (P=0.0214 and P=0.0289 respectively). Overall survival and disease-free survival were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier curve with calculation of significance by the log-rank test; however, no significant difference was observed between the ADAMTS5 higher expressing group and the ADAMTS5 lower expressing group (P=0.7490 and P=0.9455, respectively). The present study confirmed high expression of ADAMTS5 as a potent marker for lymphatic invasion and lymphnode metastasis in colorectal cancer. To clarify the function of ADAMTS5 in colorectal cancer, further molecular investigations are required.