Different pattern of zymography between human gynecologic normal and malignant tissues.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate type IV collagenase in ovarian and endometrial cancer tissues.


METHODS
Tissue specimens were obtained from patients with ovarian and endometrial cancer and uterine myoma. Gelatinase activity was detected by zymography and quantitated by densitometer.


RESULTS
Four dominant gelatinases were detected in ovarian and endometrial cancer tissues: 200, 130, 92, and 72 kd gelatinase. Other forms observed were 83 kd gelatinase, which is an active form of 92 kd gelatinase, and 66 kd gelatinase, which is an active form of 72 kd gelatinase. Densitometric analysis showed that the 92 kd/72 kd ratio in ovarian cancer tissues was significantly higher than in normal ovarian tissues (p < 0.05) and that the 66 kd/72 kd ratio was higher in ovarian cancer tissues (p = 0.07). Both ratios in endometrial cancer tissues were significantly higher than in normal endometrial tissues (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Gelatinase activity was remarkably higher in ovarian and endometrial cancer tissues. Especially, 92, 83, and 66 kd gelatinases were clearly detected in cancer tissues, suggesting that these gelatinases were related to the malignant phenotype, because degradation of the components of the basement membrane such as type IV collagen is necessary for cancer cells to metastasize.
Tamakoshi
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kikkawa
F
F
Nawa
A
A
Maeda
O
O
Kawai
M
M
Sugamuma
N
N
Yamagata
S
S
Tomoda
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology*
D017364:Collagenases; D018093:Gelatinases; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9