[Expression and clinical significance of collagenase-3 (MMP-13) in gastric cancer].
BACKGROUND
MMP-13 (collagenase-3) is a metalloproteinase with potent degradative activity against a variety of elements of the extracellular matrix. Its expression has been described in some human carcinomas, where it seems to play a role in tumor progression and metastasis. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and clinical significance of MMP-13 in gastric carcinomas.


METHODS
MMP-13 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in resected specimens from 44 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. The mean ( standard error) follow-up period was 21.4 3.2 months.


RESULTS
A total of 14 gastric carcinomas (31.8%) showed positive immunostaining for MMP-13. The percentage of MMP-13-positive tumors was significantly (p = 0.009) higher in stage IV carcinomas (69.2%) than in lower stages (I: 22.2%; II: 12.5%; and III: 14.3%), as well as in nonresectable tumors (R1 and R2) (61.5%) than in resectable carcinomas (R0) (19.4%) (p = 0.017). Likewise, MMP-13 tumor expression was significantly associated with shortened overall survival in both the entire group of patients (p = 0.0006) and in the subgroup of patients with resectable tumors (p = 0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that, in patients harboring gastric adenocarcinoma, MMP-13 tumor expression is associated with higher tumor aggressiveness and a poor prognosis.
del Casar Lizcano
J M
JM
Servicio de Cirugía General. Hospital de Jove. Gijón. Oviedo. España.
Vizoso Piñeiro
F
F
González Sánchez
L O
LO
Martín Suárez
A
A
Gava
R
R
Cuesta Fernández
E
E
Díez Santisteban
M C
MC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D017364:Collagenases; C507079:MMP13 protein, human; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13