title: MMP-7 is a highly specific negative marker for benign and malignant mesothelial cells in serous effusions.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic role of MMP-7 in effusion cytology. Effusions (n = 356), consisting of 307 carcinomas (184 ovarian, 55 breast, 32 lung, 36 carcinomas of other origin) and 49 malignant mesotheliomas, were analyzed for MMP-7 expression using immunohistochemistry. MMP-7 was expressed in 124/307 (40%) carcinomas and was uniformly absent in malignant mesotheliomas (0/49; 0%; P < .001). Reactive mesothelial cells were similarly MMP-7 negative in all carcinoma specimens. In carcinomas, expression was most frequent in tumors of ovarian and other female genital (cervical and endometrial) origin (P < .001). The sensitivity and specificity of this marker in the differential diagnosis between high-grade serous carcinoma and malignant mesothelioma were 46% and 100%, respectively. In conclusion, MMP-7 expression is highly specific, though only of moderate sensitivity, for the diagnosis of carcinoma in the differential diagnosis from both benign and malignant mesothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian Radium Hospital, N-0310, Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, N-0316, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: bend@medisin.uio.no.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian Radium Hospital, N-0310, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Helene Tuft
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Stavnes
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian Radium Hospital, N-0310, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hellesylt
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, 45147, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hager
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Salerno, 84084, Italy.
authors.forename: Pio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zeppa
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pathology, Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, 34151, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinamonti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, 45147, Germany.
authors.forename: Jeremias
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wohlschlaeger
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000032:analysis*; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D054363:Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C060932:MMP7 protein, human; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7
keywords: Carcinoma; Diagnosis; Effusions; MMP-7; Mesothelioma; Reactive mesothelial cells