Expression of C-Reactive Protein in Rectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: The possible involvement of inflammation on colorectal carcinogenesis has potential prognostic, preventive and therapeutic implications. We investigated immunohistochemically whether C-reactive protein is expressed in human primary rectal adenocarcinoma and assessed its relationship with clinicopathological findings. METHODS: Ninety-one rectal cancer samples and 22 normal control samples were immunohistochemically analysed. RESULTS: Cell accumulation of C-reactive protein was observed in 65 (71%) out of 91 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma and in all 22 control cases (p < 0.01). No significant difference was observed regarding to clinicopathological features or survival rates, but a linear correlation between the positivity proportion of C-reactive protein and Dukes-Turnbull stage (p = 0.005) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that C-reactive protein might play a role in rectal carcinogenesis, but seems not to affect prognosis. Additional studies are warranted in larger population samples.