OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to detect the expression of GRHL2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues, and to assess the relationship between GRHL2 expression and clinicopathological features.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was used to examine GRHL2 in 75 CRC tissues. GRHL2 mRNA and protein levels in the CRC tissues were also analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The relationship between GRHL2 and clinicopathological features was assessed by Pearson's chi-square (χ(2)) test.

RESULTSPositive immunoreactivity for GRHL2 was detected in the nuclei of CRC cells. GRHL2 expression was increased in CRC tissues compared withthat in the paired non-tumor tissues (61.3% vs. 44.0%, P<0.01). Moreover, qRT-PCR results showed that the relative expression level of GRHL2 mRNA in the colorectal cancer tissue was (2.64±0.35), significantly higher than that of normal mucosa tissue (1.19±0.23, P<0.001). The expression level of GRHL2 mRNA was higher in stage III-IV patients (2.84±0.36) than that of stage I-II cases (2.31±0.32, P<0.05). Western blot results also showed that the expression level of GRHL2 protein in the colorectal carcinoma tissue was significantly higher than that in the normal mucosa (P<0.05). GRHL2 expression was positively correlated with tumor size, TNM stage and Ki-67 (P<0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONTaking together, our findings demonstrate that GRHL2 is overexpressed in CRC, and plays an important role in the progression of CRC.