Galectin-3 and matrix metalloproteinase-9: Perspective in management of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer in men and the seventh in women. HCC varies widely in incidence through the world, with rising incidence in Egypt. This study aimed to estimate the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and its substrate galectin-3 in order to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy and their relation to HCC-related clinical features.


METHODS
For this purpose, serum levels of these biochemical markers were assessed in 50 HCC patients, 30 cirrhotic patients in addition to 10 healthy subjects as a control group using enzyme linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
In the present study, circulating level of galectin-3, MMP-9 increased significantly in HCC as compared to the control group (P = 0.044 and 0.04, respectively). However, no significant difference was observed between cirrhotic and HCC patients (P = 0.231 and 0.193, respectively). Our study found that HCC patients with metastatic spread had a significant elevation of both serum galectin-3 and MMP-9 levels (P = 0.028 and <0.0001, respectively). In addition, galectin-3 level significantly increased in HCC patients with poor prognosis suffering from portal vein invasion (P = 0.014). Moreover, MMP-9 increased significantly with increasing stage of Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer Group diagnostic and treatment strategy (P = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
MMP-9 and galectin-3 could be used as a guide for prognosis of HCC since they may play a role in HCC progression and metastasis. However, they are not useful markers for HCC diagnosis.
Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt nadaeisa@hotmail.com.
Nada H
NH
Eisa
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Mohamed A
MA
Ebrahim
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Maha
M
Ragab
Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Laila A
LA
Eissa
Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Amal M
AM
El-Gayar
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004534:Egypt; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis
D037502:Galectin 3; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
Alpha-fetoprotein; cirrhosis; galectin-3; hepatocellular carcinoma; matrix metalloproteinase-9