DDR2 expression is associated with a high frequency of peritoneal dissemination and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer

Background: We previously identified discoidindomain receptor 2 (DDR2) as a promising driver gene of peritoneal dissemination (PD) in gastric cancer. In the present study we explored the clinical significance of DDR2 expression in colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials and Methods: We examined DDR2 expression in CRC specimens by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the association of DDR2 expression with clinicopathological factors in CRC. We divided 63 CRC cases into two groups according to their level of DDR2 expression and compared several clinicopathological factors and their overall survival. Results: The group with high DDR2 expression had significantly higher frequencies of T4, lymph node metastasis, and PD compared to the group with low DDR2 expression. Furthermore, the prognosis of the group with high DDR2 expression was significantly poorer than the group with low DDR2. Conclusion: DDR2 is a powerful biomarker that can predict poor prognosis as well as PD, and might be an effective therapeutic target for CRC.