Activity of type IV collagenases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in primary pulmonary carcinomas: a quantitative analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 are implicated in invasion and metastasis of malignant tumors. We investigated the expression and activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in lung cancer compared with normal lung parenchyma, and looked for a potential marker of malignancy.


METHODS
Thirty-six pulmonary carcinomas and paired normal lung specimens were analyzed by gelatin zymography and computer-assisted image analysis for the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9.


RESULTS
We showed that expression of both type IV collagenases was remarkably higher in carcinoma samples than in lung parenchyma. The MMP-9 levels in lung cancer were over twofold higher than in normal lung tissues. The levels of latent and active forms of MMP-2 in lung cancer samples were, correspondingly, 3.8- and 17-fold higher than in lung parenchyma. The tumor/normal (T/N) ratios of MMP-2 were negatively correlated with the hemoglobin levels and erythrocytes number.


CONCLUSIONS
A high level of the active form of MMP-2 in almost all of the carcinomas and the near lack of its activation in normal lung parenchyma shows that MMP-2 activation is associated with the malignant phenotype and may serve as a good marker of malignancy. The correlation between low hemoglobin level and T/N ratio of MMP-2 may indicate significance of MMP-2 for angiogenesis.
Hrabec
E
E
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz 90-131, Lodz Lindleya 6, Poland. ehrabec@go2.pl
Strek
M
M
Nowak
D
D
Greger
J
J
Suwalski
M
M
Hrabec
Z
Z
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010641:Phenotype
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9