Clinical significance of changes in tumor markers, extracellular matrix, MMP-9 and VEGF in patients with gastric carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of some serum tumor marker level, extracellular matrix (ECM), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with gastric cancer.


METHODS
The serum tumor markers included CEA, CA50 and CA19-9, ECM included laminin (LN), hyaluronic acid (HA), and collagen type III and IV were measured in 40 patients with gastric carcinoma and 20 matched healthy controls by radioimmunoassay. MMP-9, VEGF and MVD were measured with immunohistochemical methods and the computer image analyzer. Microvascular density (MVD) in tissues of patients with gastric carcinoma was detected.


RESULTS
The levels of CEA, CA50, CA19-9, HA, LN and collagen type IV in the patients with metastasis were significantly higher than those in the patients without metastasis (p < 0.05). The expression of MMP-9 and collage type IV in the patients with metastasis and poorly differentiated carcinomas were significantly higher than those in the patients without metastasis whose tumors were well/moderately differentiated (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
CEA, CA50, CA19-9, HA, LN and collagen type IV levels can be used as a signal of metastasis and disease progression in patients with gastric carcinoma. When a gastric carcinoma expresses a high level of MMP-9 and VEGF with high MVD, the power of infiltration and metastasis of the gastric carcinoma is enhanced.
Gao
Ze-li
ZL
Department of Gastroenterology, No.3 Peoples' Hospital Affiliated to the Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. gzeli@vip.sina.com
Zhang
Chuan
C
Du
Guang-ye
GY
Lu
Zeng-jue
ZJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9