Abstract:

Objective   To investigate expression of tolllike receptor 4 (TLR4), fas ligand (FasL) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in colorectal cancer and normal intestinal tissues. Methods   SP immunohistochemistry was used to study expression of TLR4, FasL and EGFR in 58 colorectal tissues and 25 normal colorectal tissues (control).  Results   Expression rates of TLR4, FasL and EGFR were 59%, 71% and 83% in colorectal cancers and 20%, 21% and 23% in normal intestinal tissues, respectively. TLR4 expression was correlated with distant metastasis of colorectal tumors(χ2 =4.063， P＜0.05). TLR4, FasL and EGFR all exhibited significantly higher expression in colorectal cancers than  in normal tissues. There was a positive correlation between TLR4 and FasL in their expression rates(r=0.249， P<0.01). Between TLR4 and EGFR, there was no apparent correlation(r=0.345， P>0.05). Conclusions   High expression of TLR4 is correlated with distant metastasis of colorectal tumors and may boost the immune counterattack of colorectal cancer cells through up-regulating expression of FasL.

Key words: Toll-like receptor 4； Fas ligand； Epidermal growth factor receptor； Colorectal neoplasms; ImmunohistochemistryToll