Increased plasma levels of urokinase plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in nonsmall cell lung cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
The involvements of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in the pathogenesis of various types of lung cancers have been established. The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of MMP-9 and uPA in the plasma of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.


METHODS
Gelatin zymography and ELISA were used to measure MMP-9 and uPA concentrations, respectively, in 90 NSCLC patients and 50 control subjects.


RESULTS
Compared with that of control subjects, MMP-9 and uPA levels were significantly higher in the plasma of NSCLC patients (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). Further statistical analysis for clinic pathological parameters revealed that MMP-9 and uPA levels were significantly increased in patients with metastasis (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Furthermore, the MMP-9 level was significantly different between smokers and nonsmokers (P<0.05) while uPA levels varied between histological types (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma MMP-9 and uPA might play an important role in the metastasis of NSCLC by involvement in the processes of invasion and metastasis.
Yang
Shun-Fa
SF
Institute of Biochemistry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
Hsieh
Yih-Shou
YS
Lin
Chiao-Lin
CL
Hsu
Nan-Yung
NY
Chiou
Hui-Ling
HL
Chou
Fen-Pi
FP
Chu
Shu-Chen
SC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
D005780:Gelatin; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9