title: Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 and -9 in NSCLC tumor and stromal cells: correlation with a favorable clinical outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are considered important players in angiogenesis and cancer progression. Several drugs developed for targeting MMPs have until now been without clinical efficacy. As both malignant cells and cells of the surrounding stroma contribute to tumor growth, we have explored the impact of MMP-2, -7 and -9 expression in both the tumor and stromal compartment of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  From 335 unselected stage I to IIIA NSCLC carcinomas, duplicate tumor and tumor-associated stromal cores were collected in tissue microarrays (TMAs). Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of MMP-2, -7 and -9 in tumor and stromal cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In univariate analyses, high tumor cell MMP-7 expression (P=0.029) and high stromal MMP-9 expression (P=0.001) were positive prognostic factors. In the multivariate analysis, high tumor cell MMP-7 expression (HR 1.58, CI 1.08-2.32, P=0.020) and high stromal MMP-9 expression (HR 1.92, CI 1.25-2.96, P=0.003) were independent positive prognostic factors for disease-specific survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High levels of MMP-7 in tumor cells and high levels of MMP-9 in tumor associated stroma were independent positive prognostic factors in NSCLC patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromso, Norway. helge.stenvold@uit.no
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stenvold
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Donnem
authors.forename: Sigve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Saad
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Shibli
authors.forename: Lill-Tove
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Busund
authors.forename: Roy M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bremnes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: C060932:MMP7 protein, human; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9