title: Expression and activity levels of matrix metalloproteinase-7 and in situ localization of caseinolytic activity in colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Matrix metalloproteinase-7 is capable of degrading several ECM and non-ECM molecules and contributes to colorectal cancer progression and metastasis. Here, we examined the significance of MMP-7 in colorectal tumors by detecting active and latent MMP-7 levels and localization of its caseinolytic activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated expression levels, localization, and proteolytic activity of MMP-7 and local caseinolytic activity in colorectal tumor and paired normal tissues by using real time PCR, casein zymography, immunohistochemistry and in situ casein zymography, respectively. In addition the results were compared with clinicopathological variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Real time PCR and immunohistochemistry showed that MMP-7 expressions were higher in colorectal tumor tissues than in normal tissues. Also, mRNA expressions of MMP-7 were positively correlated with tumor and pathological stages and negatively correlated with age. Furthermore, MMP-7 mRNA expression had a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 81.2% at a cut-off value of 0.0006, making it a potential marker for diagnosis of colorectal cancer. According to casein zymography, pro- and active MMP-7 levels were also elevated in tumor tissues. In addition, we assessed local caseinolytic activity using in situ casein zymography. Increased immunoreactivity of MMP-7 and local caseinolytic activity were found in neoplastic cells but not in stromal cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We emphasized the significant role of MMP-7 in diagnosis and progression and/or development of colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, 35340 Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Didem
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keles
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, 35340 Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Baha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, 35340 Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terzi
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, 35340 Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Isil
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tekmen
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, 35340 Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ezgi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dursun
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, 35340 Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oguz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Altungoz
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, 35340 Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: gulgun.oktay@deu.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Gulgun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oktay
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002364:Caseins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7
keywords: Casein zymography; Colorectal cancer; In situ casein zymography; Matrix metalloproteinase-7