title: A pilot study on faecal MMP-9: a new noninvasive diagnostic marker of colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading malignancies worldwide, therefore cheap noninvasive screening methods are of great importance. Matrix-metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has a role in the progression of CRC, and its level is elevated in tumour biopsies. Faecal MMP-9 levels are increased in active ulcerative colitis patients, but in CRC patients, they have never been measured. We aimed to assess the faecal MMP-9 levels in patients undergoing total colonoscopy according to endoscopic and histological diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and nine patients provided faecal samples for MMP-9 analysis. A total colonoscopy was performed; suspicious lesions were evaluated by histology. Faecal MMP-9 levels were measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of patients allocated to different groups were: negative/diverticulosis: 34 (referred to as controls); hyperplastic polyps: 15; adenomas: 32 (22 at high risk); and CRC: 28. Faecal MMP-9 was significantly increased in CRC compared with all other groups (P<0.001). Faecal MMP-9 was suitable to distinguish CRC patients from controls (sensitivity: 89.3%; specificity: 91.2%). By means of a lower cutoff level, faecal MMP-9 identified high-risk adenomas besides CRC (sensitivity: 76%; specificity: 85.3%). This lower cutoff level screened 59% of high-risk adenomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Faecal MMP-9 may be a promising new noninvasive marker in CRC.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 8-10, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Annaházi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Szeged, Pf. 427, Szeged 6701, Hungary.
authors.forename: Szabolcs
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ábrahám
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 8-10, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors.forename: Klaudia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 8-10, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosztóczy
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 8-10, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors.forename: Orsolya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Inczefi
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 8-10, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors.forename: Imre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Földesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Informatics, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 9, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors.forename: Mónika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szűcs
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 8-10, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors.forename: Mariann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rutka
authors.affiliation: Toxalim UMR 1331 INRA/INP/UPS, Neuro-Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, 180, Chemin de Tournefeuille, BP.93173, Toulouse Cedex 3, 31027, France.
authors.forename: Vassilia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Theodorou
authors.affiliation: Toxalim UMR 1331 INRA/INP/UPS, Neuro-Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, 180, Chemin de Tournefeuille, BP.93173, Toulouse Cedex 3, 31027, France.
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eutamene
authors.affiliation: Toxalim UMR 1331 INRA/INP/UPS, Neuro-Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, 180, Chemin de Tournefeuille, BP.93173, Toulouse Cedex 3, 31027, France.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Szeged, Pf. 427, Szeged 6701, Hungary.
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lázár
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 8-10, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wittmann
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 8-10, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 8-10, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors.forename: Richárd
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Róka
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9