title: Prognostic significance of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) expression at the invasive front in gastric carcinoma.
abstract: To evaluate the clinicopathological significance of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) expression in gastric carcinoma, we investigated immunohistochemically MMP-7 expression in 214 gastric carcinomas, and examined its relations with the clinicopathologic parameters including patient prognosis. MMP-7 expressed predominantly in cancer cells, and MMP-7-positive tumor cells were preferentially found in deeply invading nests, especially at the invasive front. The mean MMP-7 labeling index (LI) at the invasive front was significantly higher in tumors invading or penetrating the muscularis propria and in stages II - IV than within the submucosal layer and in stage I, respectively (P < 0.001). Statistical analysis revealed that MMP-7 LI at the invasive front was related to lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion, and lymphatic permeation, when all 214 cases were examined as one group (P < 0.05 for all), and the cases with high MMP-7 expression at the invasive front showed significantly more unfavorable prognosis as compared with that of low MMP-7 expression tumors (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that TNM stage and MMP-7 expression status at the invasive front were independent prognostic factors (P = 0.0017, relative risk (RR) = 3.12; P = 0.0019, RR = 2.67, respectively). Our findings indicated that expression of MMP-7 at the invasive front is closely associated with local invasiveness, and might be a reliable prognostic marker for patients with gastric carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. xpliu@po.cc.yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Xiu Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shigeto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawauchi
authors.forename: Atsunori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oga
authors.forename: Kureo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsushimi
authors.forename: Mutsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsushimi
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furuya
authors.forename: Kohsuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7