Detection of gelatinase B activity in serum of gastric cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the proteolytic activity and expression of gelatinase B in serum of gastric cancer patients and their correlation with the stage of the tumor.


METHODS
Sera from 23 patients who underwent surgery for primary gastric cancer as the experimental group and from 11 as the control group were used to determine the proteolytic activity and its inhibition by EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline. Gelatinase B activity was detected by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and SDS-PAGE zymography.


RESULTS
Proteolytic enzyme activity was increased in gastric cancer patients when compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The proteinases were determined to be metalloproteinases upon inhibition test with specific metalloproteinase inhibitors 1,10-phenanthroline (P < 0.05) and EDTA (P < 0.01). SDS-PAGE and SDS-PAGE zymography revealed gelatinase B (proMMP-9) activity and its molecular mass of 92 ku.


CONCLUSIONS
Proteinase activity is overexpressed in serum of gastric cancer patients. Gelatinase B in serum plays an important role in the progression of gastric cancer. ProMMP-9 can be used as a marker for invasiveness of gastric cancer.
Dragutinović
Vesna V
VV
Institute of Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Visegradska 26, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. vdragu@ptt.yu
Radovanović
Nebojsa S
NS
Izrael-Zivković
Lidija T
LT
Vrvić
Miroslav M
MM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
D004492:Edetic Acid; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9