Clinical investigation of TROP-2 as an independent biomarker and potential therapeutic target in colon cancer

Colon cancer is associated with a severe demographic and economic burden worldwide. The pathogenesis of colon cancer is highly complex and involves sequential genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Despite extensive investigation, the pathogenesis of colon cancer remains to be elucidated. As the third most common type of cancer worldwide, the treatment options for colon cancer are currently limited. Human trophoblast cell-surface marker (TROP-2), is a cell-surface transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed by several types of epithelial carcinoma. In addition, TROP-2 has been demonstrated to be associated with tumorigenesis and invasiveness in solid types of tumor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protein expression of TROP-2 in colon cancer tissues, and further explore the association between the expression of TROP-2 and clinicopathological features of patients with colon cancer. The expression and localization of the TROP-2 protein was examined using western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Finally, the expression of TROP-2 expression was correlated to conventional clinicopathological features of colon cancer using chi(2) test. The results revealed that TROP-2 protein was expressed at high levels in the colon cancer tissues, which was associated with the development and pathological process of colon cancer. Therefore, TROP-2 may be used as a biomarker to determine the clinical prognosis, and as a potential therapeutic target in colon cancer.