title: Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 type IV collagenases in serum of patients with pleural effusions.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that are essentially involved in the turnover of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Recently, several MMPs were implicated in creating an environment that supports the initiation and maintenance of tumor growth. We verified MMP activity in the sera of patients with pleural effusions by gelatin zymography. Of these patients, 22 had malignant pleural effusion, consisting of 11 breast carcinomas and 11 lung carcinomas (7 squamous cell carcinomas and 4 adenocarcinomas), and 8 patients had benign effusions. The sera of 25 healthy subjects were used as controls. Zymography analysis showed three major gelatinolytic bands of 72, 92 and 220 kDa. The MMP-9/MMP-2 ratio was enhanced in cancer patients compared with benign diseases and healthy individuals. Furthermore, we determined the circulating levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (Ca 19-9), carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (Ca 15-3). The serum levels of Ca 15-3 were above the cut-off levels in several cancer patients. No correlation between gelatinolytic activity and high tumoral marker values was found.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare 'L. Califano', Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Federico II', 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Terracciano
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Macchia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9