Tenascin-C Expression and Its Prognostic Significance in Colorectal Cancer

<i>Objective:</i> The extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin-C has been proposed as a tumor marker with prognostic significance in many cancer forms, but in colorectal cancer, reported results have been controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of immunohistochemical tenascin-C expression in a series of 231 patients with colorectal cancer. <i>Methods:</i> Paraffin-embedded formalin-fixed specimens were stained with a tenascin-C-specific monoclonal antibody, and the stromal staining intensity and pattern were analyzed. <i>Results:</i> Tenascin-C immunoreactivity was observed in all 231 specimens, with a pattern of staining that was diffuse and interstitial. The staining was occasional in 39 (17%), moderate in 106 (46%) and strong in 86 specimens (37%). There was no statistically significant association between tenascin-C immunoreactivity and any of the other clinicopathological variables. The cumulative 5-year survival rates of patients with occasional and weak staining were similar (56.8 and 54.9%, respectively), while the patients with strong tenascin-C staining had a lower survival rate (46.1%). This difference in survival was not significant (p = 0.23). The staining pattern and distribution can be viewed from digitized representative microscope slides (virtual slides) at http://www.webmicroscope.net/supplements/tenascin. <i>Conclusions:</i> Our results indicate that immunohistochemical expression of tenascin-C is not of prognostic significance in colorectal cancer.