title: Evaluation of matrix metalloproteinase type IV-collagenases in serum of patients with tumors of the central nervous system.
abstract: The basement membrane collagen IV-degrading matrix metalloproteinases -2 and -9 (MMPs) are most often linked to the malignant phenotype of tumor cells by playing a critical role in invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and vasculogenesis. We verified the activity of these two MMPs in the sera of patients affected by brain tumors (20 gliomas, 28 meningiomas and 20 metastasis) by zymography. The sera of 25 healthy volunteers with no concomitant illnesses were used for controls. Zymography showed four dominant gelatinolytic bands of 240, 130, 92 (MMP-9) and 72 (MMP-2) kDa. No statistically significant variations of MMP-2 proteolytic activity between patients and healthy individuals were observed. On the contrary, MMP-9 (both monomeric and multimeric forms) lytic activities were significantly higher in tumors specimens compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Moreover, MMP-9 immunohistochemistry revealed: (1) a strong reactivity in neoplastic vessels of high-grade gliomas showing an inverse correlation with serum multimeric gelatinolytic activity; (2) a cytoplasmatic reactivity in meningiomas with a significantly increase in atypical meningioma compared with low-grade ones (p = 0.036); (3) a positive correlation between MMP-9 and Ki-67 (Sperman Rho coefficient r = 0.418 and p = 0.034). Our results suggest that serum and tissue MMP-9 might provide clinicians additional objective information in intracranial neoplasms. Finally, it should be possible to use MMP-9 as a target for new forms of therapy. Nevertheless, due to the small number of patients included in the study, the conclusion may not be transferable to the general population and therefore further evaluations are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy.|Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomorphological Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Elia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guadagno
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bruzzese
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomorphological Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marialaura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Basso De Caro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peca
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Sgulò
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maiuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy. angelina.dicarlo@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: Central nervous system; Matrix metalloproteinases; Serum; Tumors