title: Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in tumor epithelial cells correlates with colorectal cancer metastasis.
abstract: Colorectal cancer mortality largely reflects metastasis, the spread of the disease to distant organs. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is a key regulator of metastasis and a target for anticancer strategies in colon cancer. Here, the overexpression of MMP-9 in pure tumor epithelial, but nor stromal, cell populations was associated with metastatic progression of colorectal cancer, as defined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and confirmed by immunostaining. Thus, cancer cell MMP-9 represents a novel, selective prognostic and predictive factor that may be exploited for more effective disease stage stratification and therapeutic regimen selection in patients with colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Zuzga
authors.forename: Ahmara Vivian
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wilhelm Johannes
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lubbe
authors.forename: Inna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chervoneva
authors.forename: Giovanni Mario
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Pitari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002469:Cell Separation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9