title: Serum matrilysin levels predict outcome in curatively resected colorectal cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) is involved in invasion, metastasis, growth, and angiogenesis. The aim of this study is to assess the prognostic role of serum MMP-7 in curatively resected colorectal cancer (CRC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing resection for CRC (n = 175) were recruited from July 2003 to December 2004. MMP-7 was determined using a quantitative solid phase sandwich ELISA. Cox analysis was used to assess the role of MMP-7 in predicting overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median length of follow-up was 45 months (range 1 to 59). Levels of MMP-7 are predictors of DFS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.119, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.038-1.207) and of OS (HR 1.113, 95% CI 1.025-1.209). Patients with MMP-7 higher than the median (4.3 ng/ml) are more likely to relapse (29.5% vs 18.4%, P = .084); median time to progression in relapsed patients is 8 months if MMP-7 is > or =4.3 ng/ml and 18 months if MMP-7 is <4.3 ng/ml. Node-negative patients with low MMP-7 have a predicted probability of relapse-free survival at 4 years of 88% (95% CI 83-92%); if the MMP-7 is higher than the median value; this probability is 77% (95% CI 73-81%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-7 predicts recurrence in curatively resected CRC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación Médica de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Fernandez
authors.forename: Xabier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: García-Albeniz
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Visa
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Codony-Servat
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Augé
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Longarón
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gascón
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lacy
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castells
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maurel
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D003082:Colectomy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7