Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) correlates with tumor proliferation, and a poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Matrix metalloporteinase-7 (MMP-7) is a member of the MMP family, and it has been reported to play an important role in tumorigenesis, invasion and metastasis. We performed a retrospective study on the MMP-7 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) according to the clinical characteristics, biological markers and the Wnt1 expression.


METHODS
One hundred forty-seven postsurgical NSCLC patients were investigated. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the MMP-7 expression, the Ki-67 proliferation index, tumor angiogenesis and the Wnt1 expression. The TUNEL method was performed to investigate tumor apoptosis.


RESULTS
Seventy-six carcinomas (51.7%) were MMP-7-positive. The MMP-7 expression was significantly higher in squamous cell carcinomas than in adenocarcinomas (P<0.0001). The Ki-67 proliferation index was significantly higher in MMP-7-positvie tumors than in MMP-7-negative tumors (P=0.0003). However, there was no difference in the MMP-7 expression in relation to apoptosis or angiogenesis. Regarding its regulation, the MMP-7 expression significantly correlated with the Wnt1 expression (r=0.426, P<0.0001). The overall survival was significantly lower in patients with MMP-7-positive NSCLCs than in those with MMP-7-negative NSCLCs (P=0.0018). A Cox regression analyses also demonstrated MMP-7 status to be a significant prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 2.187; P=0.0023).


CONCLUSIONS
The overexpression of MMP-7 was associated with tumor proliferation, and a poor prognosis in NSCLCs. In addition, Wnt1 may play a critical role in regulating the intratumoral MMP-7 expression.
Liu
Dage
D
Second Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan.
Nakano
Jun
J
Ishikawa
Sinya
S
Yokomise
Hiroyasu
H
Ueno
Masaki
M
Kadota
Kyuichi
K
Urushihara
Masahide
M
Huang
Cheng-Long
CL
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D051155:Wnt1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C060932:MMP7 protein, human; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7