Expression and function of Tie2 in human rectal carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the effect of Tie2 in rectal carcinoma and the role of Tie2 in the invasion and metastasis of human rectal carcinoma. Methods: S-P immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of Tie2 in 40 cases of rectal carcinoma and 10 cases of normal rectal tissues. Results: Tie2 was mainly localized in cytoplasm and nucleus of vascular endothelial cells in cancerous tissues and positive expression existed in part of cytoplasm of carcinous cells. The positive rate of Tie2 in rectal carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal rectal tissues (P<0.05). There was no significant association of Tie2 expression with the differentiation, infiltration or Dukes grade (P>0.05). The expression of Tie2 in rectal cancer was greatly associated with lymphatic metastasis of the tumor (P<0.05). Conclusion: Tie2 plays a key role in the growth and lymphatic metastasis of rectal carcinoma.