Clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase-7 and Ets-1 gene expression in patients with lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) is a member of the MMP family and has a wide variety of substrate spectra. Ets domain transcription factors are reported to play an important role in carcinoma invasion and metastasis. The regulatory role of Ets-1 has been shown in several MMPs. We have hypothesized that MMP-7 and Ets-1 mRNA levels could be predictors of the development and invasion of lung cancer.


METHODS
The study included 73 lung cancer cases. The mRNA levels were quantified by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using a LightCycler.


RESULTS
No significant difference in MMP-7 and Ets-1 mRNA levels was found among gender, age, and pathological subtype. The MMP-7 mRNA levels were elevated in tumor tissues from stage II-IV lung cancer (1.629 +/- 2.267) compared to those from stage I lung cancer (0.762 +/- 1.463) (P = 0.0290). There was a tendency toward higher MMP-7 mRNA expression levels in tumors with lymph node metastasis (1.728 +/- 2.432) compared to those without lymph node metastasis (1.141 +/- 1.838) (P = 0.1076). Thus, MMP-7 mRNA levels may serve as a marker of higher stages in lung cancer. No significant difference in Ets-1 mRNA levels was found among clinical stages and T-status. The Ets-1 mRNA levels were elevated in tumors from N2 patients (7.512 +/- 13.306) compared to those from N0 patients (2.525 +/- 4.719) (P = 0.0209). Ets-1 mRNA levels showed a positive correlation with MMP-7 expression (P = 0.0042).


CONCLUSIONS
Using the LightCycler RT-PCR assay, the determination of MMP-7 and Ets-1 mRNA levels might provide a potential marker for advanced lung cancer. However, further studies and a longer follow-up are needed to confirm the impact of MMP-7 in the biological behavior of the tumor.
Sasaki
H
H
Department of Surgery II, Nagoya City University Medical School, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
Yukiue
H
H
Moiriyama
S
S
Kobayashi
Y
Y
Nakashima
Y
Y
Kaji
M
M
Kiriyama
M
M
Fukai
I
I
Yamakawa
Y
Y
Fujii
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
C494041:ETS1 protein, human; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7