Elevated level of circulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with lung cancer.
The 72 kDa matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2) and the 92 kDa matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9), are type IV collagenases that have been implicated as important factors in cancer invasion and metastasis formation. We have used quantitative zymography and computer-assisted image analysis to measure the levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in 19 samples of serum of lung cancer patients and in 23 samples of normal serum. Mean levels of MMP-9 were significantly elevated in cancer samples compared with normal sera (1.33 +/- 0.61 microU microl(-1) vs. 0.37 +/- 0.10 microU microl(-1), P<0.0001). MMP-2 levels did not differ significantly in these two groups. However, there was no significant correlation between serum MMP-9 activity and the disease stage. We found that circulation levels of MMP-9 in lung cancer patients is 3.6-fold higher than in healthy volunteers, however, we do not consider this elevation to be a direct reflection of MMP-9 over-production by tumour cells.
Hrabec
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E
Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lódź, Poland. hrabec@lodz.cc
Strek
M
M
Nowak
D
D
Hrabec
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9