title: Augmented membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP):MMP-2 messenger RNA ratio in gastric carcinomas with poor prognosis.
abstract: The activation of zymogen and the amount of proteinase and its inhibition are important in determining the eventual activity of matrix-degrading enzymes involved in tumor aggressiveness. To evaluate a gene complement leading to matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2; Mr 72,000 gelatinase) activity, membrane type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP), urokinase-type plasminogen activator, MMP-2, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 transcriptional levels were measured in gastric carcinoma biopsies. Comparative tumor:normal tissue reverse transcription-PCR in a cohort of 25 patients revealed up to a 10-fold difference in the expression of MT1-MMP, a metalloproteinase that has been proposed as a membrane receptor activator of MMP-2; a 1-unit increment resulted in a 30% risk to survival. A 20% risk also resulted from a 1-unit increment in the MT1-MMP: MMP-2 ratio, which showed differences of up to 15-fold. Instead, the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, which trips off a cascade ending in the activation of MMP-2, as well as the expression of MMP-2 itself and its inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2, lacked correlation with patient follow-up. Zymography revealed MMP-2 activities that were often in conflict with the transcription results and also with follow-up. The results suggest the evaluation of MT1-MMP and/or MT1-MMP:MMP-2 transcription as a new preoperative molecular-level prognostic factor for gastric carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caenazzo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onisto
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sartor
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scalerta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giraldo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nitti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garbisa
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D018093:Gelatinases; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2