title: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) immunoreactive protein in urinary bladder cancer: a marker of favorable prognosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  [corrected] The purpose of this study was to explore whether changes in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are involved in the progression of urinary bladder cancer and whether they have any prognostic value.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overexpression of MMP-9 was evaluated in the primary tumor of 87 urinary bladder cancer cases with immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the urinary bladder carcinomas, 38% showed an overexpression (>25%) of MMP-9 immunoreactive protein. Increased positivity for MMP-9 correlated with favorable overall survival of the urinary bladder cancer patients. The 5-year overall survival and relapse-free survival was 68% and 36% in patients showing high MMP-9 expression and 48% and 19% in patients with low (<25%) or negative MMP-9 expression (p=0.006, p=0.08, respectively). In multivariate analysis, MMP-9 overexpression seems to retain its independent prognostic value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that MMP-9 expression in urinary bladder carcinoma is associated with better prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. kaija.vasala@oulu.fi
authors.forename: Kaija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vasala
authors.forename: Paavo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pääkko
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Turpeenniemi-Hujanen
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000201:enzymology; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015996:Survival Rate; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9