Matrix metalloproteinases 2, 3, 13 and their type 2 tissue inhibitor in tumors and plasma of patients with colorectal cancer

The effectiveness of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and evaluation of angiogenesis in the model of experimental colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Early diagnosis and treatment of CRCs are of importance for improving the survival. In the present study, we studied the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-induced chemopreventive effects on tumor development incidence and angiogenesis in experimental CRC rats. 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride (DMH) was used as cancer-inducing agent and two NSAIDs (celecoxib and diclofenac) were given orally as chemopreventive agents. Histopathological and immuno histochemical evaluations were performed in colorectal tissue samples, whereas angiogenesis parameters were studied in blood samples. Histopathological examination showed that adenocarcinoma (62.5%), dysplastic changes (31.25%) and inflammattory changes (6.25%) were detected in DMH group, whereas no pathological change was observed in control rats. In treatment groups, there was marked decrease in adenocarcinoma rate (30% and 10%, respectively). A significant increase was detected in MMP-2, MMP-9 levels and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio in DMH group as compared with controls and treatment groups. In immunohistochemical evaluations, there was an increase in intensity and extent of staining of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in DMH group as compared to controls and treatment groups. The decrease in celecoxib group was more prominent. Overall, it was concluded that NSAIDs, particularly cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, might have a protective effect on CRC development and slow down progression of tumor in a DMH-induced experimental cancer model. One of the possible mechanisms in the chemoprevention of colon cancer seems to be inhibition of angiogenesis by diclofenac and celecoxib.

Clinicopathologic and Prognostic Significance of Metalloproteinase Tissue Inhibitor-2 Promoters in Tunisian Colorectal Cancer: A Case-Control Study

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) appear to affect many aspects of cancer biology, playing a crucial role in cell signaling by regulating cell growth, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and genomic instability. In the present study, we investigate whether TIMP-2 SNP, TIMP-2 mRNAs, and TIMP-2 protein is associated with susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC) in Tunisian population. Taqman and DNA sequencing techniques were used for genotyping, TIMP-2 expression of each genotype was analyzed using semiquantitative RT-PCR and TIMP-2 protein expression was analyzed using immunohistochemistry staining. Our results showed that significantly elevated CRC risk was found in individuals with CC genotype (odds ratio 1.959; 95% confidence interval, 1.055-3.637). Moreover TIMP-2 mRNA expression in the colorectal cell carcinomas was significantly higher compared with the normal colorectal tissue (0.487±0.015 vs. 0.210±0.013) (P<0.05). In addition, serum levels of TIMP-2 were significantly lower in CRC patients than in adenoma patients (P=0.01) and healthy controls (P=0.003). Serum levels of TIMP-2 correlated significantly with tumor stage and TNM stage and were the lowest in CRC patients with stage D,T4,(N1,N2,N3),M(+). In conclusion, our study demonstrate for the first time the distribution and the clinical significance of TIMP-2 promoter polymorphisms, mRNA, protein expression, and serum level in CRC Tunisian patients suggesting that the genotyping and serum level of TIMP-2 as potential markers for susceptibility to CRC will allow a precise and early identification of individuals at high risk and will aid the design of therapeutic modalities and evaluation of treatment outcome.

Serum levels and tissue expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2) in colorectal cancer patients

The objective of the study was the assessment of serum levels and tissue expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The study included 72 CRC patients and 68 healthy subjects. The serum levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, whereas tissue expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in cancer cells, interstitial inflammatory cells, and adjacent normal colorectal mucosa were examined by immunohistochemical staining of tumor samples. The serum levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in cancer patients were significantly lower than those in control group, but the percentage of positive immunoreactivity of these proteins were higher in malignant and inflammatory cells as compared to normal tissue. There was a significant correlation between MMP-2 immunoreactivity in inflammatory cells and the presence of distant metastases and between TIMP-2 expression in inflammatory cells and tumor size, nodal involvement, and distant metastases. Area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for serum MMP-2 was higher than for serum TIMP-2. Moreover, positive tissue expression of MMP-2 was a significant prognostic factor for CRC patients’ survival. Our findings suggest that MMP-2 and TIMP-2 might play a role in the process of colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis, but the significance of their interactions with tumor stroma and interstitial inflammatory infiltration in colorectal neoplasia require further elucidation.

Serum level of MMP-3 in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma--lack of association with clinico-pathological features

BACKGROUND

MMP-3 is a proteolytic enzyme of the matrix metalloproteinase family. Protein degradation which is their fundamental action regulates different activities of tumor cell such as their growth, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, angiogenesis as well as their resistance to the immune system.

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine MMP-3 serum levels in patients with OSCC and investigate if they correlate with clinicopathological features.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

Using an ELISA kit, we assessed and compared the circulating levels of MMP-3 in blood serum of 45 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients with 45 healthy control samples.

RESULTS

The serum MMP-3 level in OSCC patients was significantly higher (9.45±4.6 ng/ml) than healthy controls (5.9±3.6 ng/ml, p<0.001), especially in females and in older patients. However, there was no apparent correlation in serum MMP-3 concentration with the clinico-pathological features such as tumor location, stage, tumor size, nodal status, distant metastasis, histological grade and smoking.

DISCUSSION

This result suggests that the measurement of serum MMP-3 concentration might be helpful to diagnose OSCC but not to predict prognosis.

Matrix metalloproteinase 2 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases 2 in the diagnosis of colorectal adenoma and cancer patients

The aim of the study was to assess the importance of the measurement of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in relation to clinicopathological features of tumor and patients' survival. Additionally, we determined serum MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in colorectal adenoma (CA) patients and healthy controls and compared them with tumor markers, CEA and CA 19-9. The serum levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in 91 CRC patients, 28 CA subjects and 91 healthy controls were determined by ELISA method, but concentrations of CEA and CA 19-9 using MEIA method. Nonparametric statistical analyses were used. Serum levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were significantly lower in CRC patients than in healthy subjects and decreased with tumor stage. Additionally, MMP-2 concentrations were significantly lower in patients with CRC than in CA group. Diagnostic sensitivity of TIMP-2 (59%) was the highest among biomarkers tested and increased in combined use with CEA (79%). Moreover, the area under ROC curve (AUC) of TIMP-2 was larger than AUC of MMP-2 in differentiation between CRC and healthy subjects, but lower than AUC of matrix metalloproteinase 2 in differentiation between colorectal cancer and adenoma. Our findings suggest clinical usefulness of TIMP-2 as a biomarker in the diagnosis of CRC, especially in combination with CEA. However, further investigation is necessary.

Molecular markers of tumors

The main biologically significant molecular markers of human tumors are discussed on the basis of modern published data and author's findings of many-year studies: steroid hormone receptors, growth factors and underlying signal proteins, tumor-associated proteases, and angiogenesis markers. Methodological aspects, progress in preclinical studies, international recommendations on the use of these parameters for prediction of the disease course and prescription of effective therapy are analyzed. Latest data on the potentialities and limitations of modern highly productive technologies (microchips) as an alternative to studies of individual molecular markers are presented.