title: MMP-1 is a prognostic marker for hematogenous metastasis of colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Degradation of basement membrane and extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is believed to be an essential step in the complicated process of hematogenous metastasis. MMP-1 is a member of collagenases, a family of MMPs that degrades collagens type I, II, and III, main components of the interstitial stroma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of MMP-1 in colorectal cancer and its correlation with hematogenous metastasis. Patients and Methods. We examined 133 cases of colorectal cancer (Dukes A: 72; Dukes B: 26; Dukes C: 23; Dukes D: 12). Sections were cut from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples containing the deepest site of cancer invasion and stained immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody to MMP-1. According to the area of the tumor that was stained, patients were divided into high- and low-MMP-1 expression groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMP-1 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of cancer cells, some stromal cells, and a few normal epithelial cells of colonic mucosa. High MMP-1 expression was found in 47 (35.3%) cases and low in 86 (64.7%). Hematogenous metastasis was identified in 14 (29.8%) of high-MMP-1 groups and 12 (13.9%) of low-MMP-1 groups. MMP-1 expression significantly correlated with hematogenous metastasis of colorectal cancer, but no correlation was found between MMP-1 expression and the other clinicopathological features investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-1 expression may be a novel marker for hematogenous metastasis of colorectal cancer, and its inhibition may be a strategy for prevention of metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology. Department of Transfusion Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sunami
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsuno
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osada
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kitayama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomozawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuruo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1