Association of keratinocyte growth factor receptor expression identified unique features in colorectal cancer

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), also known as fibroblast growth factor, namely FGF7, is a well-known group of polypeptides characterized by their induction of several cellular growth-related effects, like being potent mitogenic and differentiating into their affected cells. The activity of KGF is exerted via binding to its receptor protein called keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR) (also known as FGFR2b) expressed on nearby cells, and hence, the paracrine action of KGF has been documented previously. The current study monitors the expression of both proteins, KGF and KGFR, from colorectal cancer (CRC) adenocarcinoma tissues. Saudi patients with colorectal cancer exhibit some unique features, including a lower age incidence rate among males and a higher tendency among women at older ages. We found transcripts for both polypeptides in adenocarcinoma and normal tissues with no significant changes related to disease stage. In addition, overexpressed KGF and KGFR mRNAs were detected in 36% and 10% of CRC samples, respectively. This study aims to estimate KGF/KGFR in Saudi CRC patients, which sheds light on further investigation of the details of its mechanism and role in tumorigenesis. Our findings indicate that elevated KGFR expression may be associated with decreased overall survival, suggesting a possible role in disease progression. These results emphasize the importance of the KGF/KGFR signaling pathway in CRC, indicating its potential as both a prognostic biomarker and a target for therapy.