title: Serum matrix metalloproteinase-2 in patients with malignant melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of structurally related zinc-dependent endopeptidases that are able to degrade extracellular matrix components. MMPs play a role in tumor invasion and tumor metastasis. MMP-2 (also known as gelatinase A) is expressed in human melanoma cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we measured MMP-2 in 337 serum probes of 166 melanoma patients with a recently developed enzyme immunoassay and compared these data with the tumor stage, presence of metastases, and the levels of S100beta and soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in serum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean levels were (189.2 +/- 50.8) ng/ml for MMP-2, (263.2 +/- 74.1) ng/ml for sICAM-1, and (0.424 +/- 1.568) U/ml for S100beta. There was a statistical significant correlation of MMP-2 with sICAM-1 (P=0.05) and Sl00beta (P=0.01). The mean MMP-2 levels (in ng/ml) in patients with metastatic melanoma were 196.4 +/- 54.0 versus 182.6 +/- 46.9 in non-metastasizing melanoma (P=0.037). However, there was no significant difference in MMP-2 levels between the different tumor stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determination of MMP-2 serum levels is of limited value as a tumor marker in melanoma, though there are higher levels in the more advanced disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany. Wollina-Uw@khdf.de
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wollina
authors.forename: U C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Hipler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knöll
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Graefe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaatz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2