title: Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase-7 is an independent prognostic biomarker in advanced bladder cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urine markers have been studied extensively but there is a lack of blood prognostic markers in bladder cancer. MMP-7 is produced by stromal cells and by tumor cells and is overexpressed in a variety of epithelial and mesenchymal tumors. In this study, we assessed with an immunoassay we developed, the prognostic value of serum MMP-7 in a series of patients with advanced bladder cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were collected from 56 patients with advanced bladder cancer who were treated at the Montpellier Cancer Institute between March 2003 and December 2004. MMP-7 was quantified in serum samples by using a homogeneous sandwich fluoroimmunoassay we developed based on the time resolved amplified cryptate emission (TRACE) technology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median overall survival of the study population was 2.2 years (95% CI, 1.4 to 3.0) with 1- and 5-year survival rates of 73% (95% CI, 59% to 82%) and 25% (95% CI, 14% to 37%), respectively. High MMP-7 serum levels were associated with poor survival. Using a cut-off value of 11.5 ng/mL, the median overall survival was 3.0 years (95% CI, 1.5 to 5.1) for patients with MMP-7 serum level <11.5 ng/mL and 1.3 years (95% CI, 0.8 to 2.5) for patients with serum level ?11.5 ng/mL. Multivariate analysis identified high MMP-7 serum concentration as an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with advanced bladder cancer (R?=?2.1, 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that the MMP-7 serum concentration is an independent prognostic factor in patients with locally advanced and or metastatic bladder cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cap d¿Or Clinic, La Seyne sur Mer, France.
authors.forename: Mounira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Demery
authors.affiliation: Clinical Diagnostic Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Nimes, France.
authors.forename: Gaiané
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demirdjian-Sarkissian
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Institut Régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM), Val d¿Aurelle, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thezenas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM), Val d¿Aurelle, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jacot
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Institut Régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM), Val d¿Aurelle, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Yassine
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Laghzali
authors.affiliation: Clinical Diagnostic Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Nimes, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Darbouret
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Saint-Louis, APHP, Saint-Louis, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Culine
authors.affiliation: Clinique Beausoleil, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rebillard
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Oncogenetics, Institut Régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM), Val d¿Aurelle, Montpellier, 34298, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-Jean
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lamy
keywords: Biomarker; Bladder cancer; MMP-7; Overall survival; Prognosis; Serum; Tumor markers; Urothelial tumors