Expression of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 by cells isolated from the peritoneal fluid of women with ovarian carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the level of expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and -9 by cells isolated from the peritoneal fluid of women with ovarian carcinoma.


METHODS
Tumor tissue specimens and cells isolated from peritoneal fluid from 20 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma were examined for MMP-2 and -9 expression using immunostaining. Six benign peritoneal effusions containing mesothelial cells were also included in the study.


RESULTS
Expression of both MMP-2 and -9 was noted in cancer cells in peritoneal fluid of all cases studied. Peritoneal fluid cancer cells showed increased expression of both MMP-2 and -9 relative to mesothelial cell expression of these MMPs. Positive immunoreactivity of these MMPs in primary tumor tissues was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that both MMP-2 and -9 are frequently overexpressed in ovarian cancer cells disseminated in the peritoneal cavity and that determination of cellular MMP-2 and -9 expression could be useful in distinguishing cancer cells from mesothelial cells in peritoneal fluid cytologic specimens from women with ovarian epithelial carcinoma.
Sakata
Kenichirou
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
Shigemasa
Kazushi
K
Uebaba
Yoshimi
Y
Nagai
Nobutaka
N
Ohama
Koso
K
D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9