title: Plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 (gelatinase B) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Increased plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 have been shown in cancerous diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our present aim was to examine whether the measurement of plasma MMP-9 concentration is clinically useful for assessing or monitoring HCC patients. We measured the plasma MMP-9 concentrations in 47 HCC patients, and compared the results with the clinicopathologic features. The plasma MMP-9 levels in patients with HCC were significantly higher than those in the normal controls. The plasma levels of MMP-9 were not related to the size of HCC tumor, the grade of histological differentiation and the serum alpha-fetoprotein level. The plasma levels of MMP-9 were not significantly changed after the effective treatment of HCC tumors. In conclusion, the plasma MMP-9 test was of little value for assessing or monitoring HCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murawaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikuta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mimura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9