title: Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 as a biological marker in colorectal cancer: influence of smoking on plasma levels?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At present plasma tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) is undergoing validation as a biological marker in colorectal cancer (CRC). The clinical implementation of plasma TIMP-1 in prognosis, prediction, screening and monitoring CRC requires robust information as to the influence of preanalytical factors, including inter- and intrapersonal biological variations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible effects of smoking on the level of TIMP-1 in plasma from healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six never-smokers and 48 daily smokers participated in the 13-week study. Smokers were randomized into 3 groups of 16 subjects each: one group continued to smoke, a second group refrained from smoking and used a transdermal nicotine patch, and a third group refrained from smoking and used placebo patches. Plasma TIMP-1 levels were determined using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in TIMP-1 levels could be shown between the smoking group, the 2 different abstinent smoking groups and the never-smoking group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking does not appear to have any influence on TIMP-1 levels in plasma collected from healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hvidovre, Denmark. loui_rasmussen@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Steen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ladelund
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brünner
authors.forename: Lars N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Lars T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C560822:TIMP1 protein, human; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1