title: Plasma concentration of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical significance of plasma concentration of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) was investigated in patients with gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma was obtained from 138 healthy individuals and 70 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer at Aichi Cancer Centre between August 1994 and July 1995. Plasma concentrations of MMP-9 were measured using a one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay employing monoclonal antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with gastric cancer had plasma higher concentrations of MMP-9 than normal subjects. Postoperative concentrations of MMP-9 were lower than preoperative levels. In addition to patients with advanced cancer, those with early gastric cancer also exhibited higher mean values of and positivity rates for MMP-9 than healthy individuals. Preoperative plasma MMP-9 concentration correlated closely with Union Internacional Contra la Cancrum tumour node metastasis (pTNM) stage, severity of T, N and M classification, and tumour size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma MMP-9 concentration can be used for detection of primary or recurrent gastric cancer, and for estimation of tumour extent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Aichi Cancer Centre, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torii
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kodera
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uesaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D017364:Collagenases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D017364:Collagenases; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9