Matrix metalloproteinases may contribute compensationally to tumor invasion in T1 colorectal carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
Few investigators have focused on possible interactions among several MMPs collectively.


METHODS
Immunostaining for MMP-7, MMP-2 and MT1-MMP was performed on 51 early invasive (T1) colorectal carcinomas, and correlations between the expressions of pairs of MMPs were examined.


RESULTS
MMP-7 expression was positive at the invasive front in 18 (35%) out of 51 tumors. Cytoplasmic MMP-2 expression was positive in 20(39%) out of 51 tumors, whereas its expression in the stroma was positive in 17(33%) out of 51 tumors. MT1-MMP was localized predominantly in the tumor cell cytoplasm in 14 (27%) out of 51 tumors. There was an inverse correlation between MMP-7 and cytoplasmic MMP-2 expression with marginal significance (p = 0.06), and between MMP-7 and MT1-MMP expression with statistical significance (p = 0.01). The association between cytoplasmic MMP-2 and MT1-MMP expression was statistically significant (p = 0.0004).


CONCLUSIONS
MMP-7 and MMP-2 or MT1-MMP may contribute compensationally to tumor invasion and metastasis in T1 colorectal carcinomas.
Masaki
Tadahiko
T
First Department of Surgery, Kyorin University, 6-20-2, Shinkawa, Mitaka City, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan. masaki@kyorin-u.ac.jp
Sugiyama
Masanori
M
Matsuoka
Hiroyoshi
H
Abe
Nobutsugu
N
Izumisato
Yumi
Y
Sakamoto
Atsuhiko
A
Atomi
Yutaka
Y
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2