Comparison of matrix metalloproteinase expression between primary tumors with or without liver metastasis in pancreatic and colorectal carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are known to play an important role in carcinoma cell invasion and hematogenous metastasis by mediating the degradation of the extracellular matrix.


METHODS
We investigated the relationship between MMP-2 and -9 enzymatic activities and liver metastases in human pancreatic and colon carcinomas, using xenograft tumors in nude mice.


RESULTS
We found that type IV collagenase activity in pancreatic and colon carcinomas with liver metastases was significantly higher than in pancreatic and colon carcinomas without liver metastases. Gelatin zymography showed the presence of gelatinolytic activity bands at M(r) 92,000 and 72,000, indicating MMP-9 and MMP-2, respectively. MMP-2 and -9 expression levels in pancreatic and colon carcinomas with liver metastases were higher than in pancreatic and colon carcinomas without liver metastases. TIMP-2 levels in pancreatic and colon carcinomas with liver metastases were also higher than in those without liver metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in primary tumors is associated with liver metastases in pancreatic and colon carcinomas. In addition, the balance of activity between MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-2 may be relevant to carcinoma invasion and metastasis, including liver metastases in pancreatic and colon carcinoma.
Matsuyama
Yoshito
Y
First Department of Surgery, Kagoshima University School of Medicine, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890, Japan.
Takao
Sonshin
S
Aikou
Takashi
T
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary; D000818:Animals; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis
D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9