Expression of the lung resistance protein in primary colorectal carcinomas

To assess whether the lung resistance protein (LRP) is of clinical signific ance in colorectal carcinomas, we immunohistochemically determined LRP expr ession of colorectal carcinoma specimens (n = 68) by means of the monoclona l antibody LRP-56 and compared this expression was negative in 7 (10%), low in 36 (52%) and high in 25 (38%) carcinomas. LRP expression was independen t of histological grade, tumor size, lymph node involvement and distant met astasis. Survival of the patients with LRP-positive tumors was similar to t he survival of patients with LRP-negative tumors. However, patients with hi gh LRP expression in their carcinomas had a prolonged survival. Thus LRP is frequently expressed in colorectal carcinomas and high expression might in dicate improved survival.