title: Detection of gelatinase B activity in serum of gastric cancer patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Visegradska 26, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. vdragu@ptt.yu
authors.forename: Vesna V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Dragutinović
authors.forename: Nebojsa S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Radovanović
authors.forename: Lidija T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Izrael-Zivković
authors.forename: Miroslav M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Vrvić
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004492:Edetic Acid; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9