Type IV collagenase/gelatinase (MMP-2) is not increased in plasma of patients with cancer.
We have developed a sensitive and specific sandwich-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect M(r) 72,000 type IV collagenase [matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2)] in human plasma. As a result of the linkage between MMP-2 production by cancer cells and the metastatic phenotype, we undertook this study to compare plasma MMP-2 levels in healthy individuals, patients with various types of cancer, and hospitalized patients with chronic diseases other than cancer. The results demonstrate that MMP-2 levels are not increased in cancer patients regardless of the extent of disseminated malignancy. In an effort to explain this data, we compared MMP-2 secretion by human umbilical vein endothelial cells and lung cancer cells passaged as cell lines. Endothelial cells secreted higher levels of MMP-2 than did lung cancer cells propagated in vitro. We propose that blood vessel lining cells make a sizable contribution to plasma levels of MMP-2 and may thereby obfuscate the detection of increased levels of MMP-2 originating from extravascular sources such as solid tumors.
Zucker
S
S
Department of Research, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York 11768.
Lysik
R M
RM
Zarrabi
M H
MH
Stetler-Stevenson
W
W
Liotta
L A
LA
Birkedal-Hansen
H
H
Mann
W
W
Furie
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017364:Collagenases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017364:Collagenases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9