[The expression of EMMPRIN and the matrix metalloproteinase MMP-1 in the cervix uteri and corpus uteri in cervical squamous cell carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the features of expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and the matrix metalloproteinase MMP-1 in the cervix uteri and corpus uteri in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The investigation was conducted using the surgical material obtained after hysterectomy in patients diagnosed as having CSCC. RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and enzymatic assays were used.

RESULTS

The high expression of EMMPRIN and MMP-1 in CSCC was found not only in cervical carcinoma, but also in the stroma and epithelium of the cervix uteri and corpus uteri outside the tumor, whereas the level of MMP-1 expression in the morphologically intact tissue was significantly lower than in the tumor, while that of EMMPRIN gene expression did not differ substantially.

CONCLUSION

The expression of EMMPRIN and MMP-1 in CSCC occurs in both the tumor and the morphologically intact tissue, which may suggest that the invasive potential of tumor may increase and therefore have prognostic value.

[Gelatinases A and B and their endogenous regulators in the corpus uteri in squamous cell cervical carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of gelatinases A and B (matrix metalloproteinases (MMP 2 and MMP 9) and endogenous regulators of their activity, such as a tissue inhibitor of MMP - TIMP-2 and a Pro-MMP-9 activator - urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) as factors of corpus uteri invasion in squamous cell cervical carcinoma (SCCC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The surgical material obtained after hysterectomy in patients diagnosed with SCCC was examined. RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used.

RESULTS

In SCCC, the expressions of MMP 2 and MMP 9 were found to be high not only in carcinoma of the cervix uteri but also in the corpus uteri, which makes an additional contribution to the enhanced invasive potential of tumors and may have a prognostic value. In SCCC, the expression of MMP 9 may be induced in the corpus uteri where it was absent in normal conditions. MMP 9 can serve as a marker of an invasive process. In most cases, the activity of uPA in the tumor was significantly higher than that in intact uterine tissue, and the expression of TIMP-2 did not change substantially along the entire length of a tissue band (from the vaginal wall to the uterine fundus), as evidenced by RT-PCR, and was at a low level or absent, as shown by IHC. Impaired regulation of MMP 2 and MMP 9 expressions was found not only at the gene level, but also at post-translational one.

CONCLUSION

The expression of the gelatinases MMP 2, MMP 9 and regulators of their activity is aimed at increasing the tumor destructive (invasive) potential and can occur (be induced) in the intact corpus uteri tissue that is morphologically different from cervix uteri tissue with apparent participation of signaling through an epithelial-mesenchymal interaction. The induced MMP 9 can serve as a marker for invasive potential. The data indicate different tissue functions of MMP 2 and MMP 9. They are important for understanding the role of the gelatinases MMP 2, MMP 9 during carcinogenesis, can have a prognostic value, and affect a therapeutic strategy for patient management.

Myosin 1b promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

Recent evidence suggests an important role of Myosin 1b (Myo1b) in the progression of several cancers, including prostate cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the contribution of Myo1b to cervical cancer (CC) remains elusive.

METHODS

Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry and western blotting assays were used to confirm the expression of Myo1b in CC tissues compared with matched non-tumor tissues and CC cells, and analyze its clinical significance. In vitro, RNA interference (siRNA or shRNA) was used to investigate the biological function and underlying mechanism of Myo1b in cervical carcinogenesis. Furthermore, tumor growth was evaluated in vivo using a xenogenous subcutaneously implant model.

RESULTS

Here, for the first time we reported that Myo1b expression was significantly increased in human CC, compared to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and normal cervical tissues and that the upregulation of Myo1b was significantly correlated with FIGO Stage, HPV infection, lymph node metastasis and pathological grade. In vitro, knockdown of Myo1b significantly suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of CaSki and SiHa cells, and markedly decreased the MMP1/MMP9 activities. Also, silencing the expression of Myo1b dramatically repressed tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Further investigations showed that HPV16 E6 or E7 could enhance the expression of Myo1b via upregulating c-MYC.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our data suggested a potential role of Myo1b in cervical carcinogenesis and tumor progression and provided novel insights into the mechanism of how this factor promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in CC cells.

[Matrix metalloproteinases and their endogenous regulators in squamous cervical carcinoma (review of the own data)]

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous regulators has been investigated in squamous cervical carcinoma (SCC). The study included (i) immortalized fibroblasts (IF) and three clones of fibroblasts transformed by oncogene E7 HPV-16 (TF); (ii) cell lines associated with HPV-16 and HPV-18; (iii) tumor tissue samples from patients with SCC, associated with gene E7 HPV-16. Transfection of fibroblasts with the E7 HPV16 oncogen was accompanied by induction of collagenase (MMP-1, MMP-14) and gelatinase (MMP-9) gene expression and the increase in catalytic activity of these MMP, while gelatinase MMP-2 expression remained unchanged. Expression of MMP-9 was found only inTF. MMP-9 may serve as a TF marker. In TF expression mRNA TIMP-1 was decreased. The level of free endogenous inhibitors in TF was significantly lower then the level in IF. Expression MMP correlated with the tumorigenic potential of TF. Invasive potential of cell lines associated with HPV18 (HeLa and S4-1) was more pronounced than that of cell lines associated with HPV16 (SiHa and Caski). The cell lines differed substantially in the level of expression of MMPI and their endogenous regulators. In most cell lines mRNA levels of collagenases MMP-1 and MMP-14 and the activator (uPA) increased, while gelatinase MMP-2 mRNA and tissue inhibitors mRNAs changed insignificantly. MMP-9 expression in cell lines was not detected. Results of studies on these cell lines suggest existence of an imbalance in the system enzyme/inhibitor/activator, that increases destructive potential of these cells. The study of expression of MMP and their endogenous regulators performed using SCC tumor samples associated with HPV16 has shown that the invasive and metastatic potentials of tumor tissue in SCC is obviously determined by the increase of expression of collagenases MMP-1, MT1-MMP and gelatinase MMP-9, decreased expression of inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2), and to a lesser extent to increased expression of MMP-2. MMP-1 and MMP-9 can serve as markers of invasive and metastatic potential of the SCC tumor. In adjacent to the tumor normal tissue revealed a significant expression of MMP-1,-2,-9.

[Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) and the regulators of its activity as invasive factors in squamous cell cervical carcinomas]

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1MMP) is one of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), which play а key role in tumor invasion and metastasis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the peculiarities of expression of MT1MMP and endogenous regulators of its activity: the activator - furin and the inhibitor - TIMP-2, as invasive factors of squamous cell cervical carcinomas (SCC). The study was carried out using 11 specimens of SCC and 11 specimens of morphologically normal tissue adjacent to the tumor. It was shown that the increase of MT1-MMP and furin expression and low of TIMP-2 expression makes the main contribution to the destructive (invasive) potential of SCC. Moreover, substantial expression of MT1-MMP was registered in the specimens of morphologically normal adjoining to tumor tissue. This expression was found to make an additional contribution to the destructive potential of the cervical tumor.

[Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9, their endogenous regulators, and angiotensin-converting enzyme in cervical squamous cell carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

to investigate the specific features of the expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2, MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloptoteinase 2 (TIMP-2), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The samples of tumor tissue and morphologically normal tissue adjacent to the tumor were investigated. Enzymatic assays applying specific substrates, as well as zymographic and immunohistochemical studies were used.

RESULTS

The invasive potential of CSCC has been established to be substantially influenced by the increased expression of MMP-9 and uPA and by the decreased expression of TIMP-2, as well as to a lesser extent by a change in MMP-2 expression. MMP-9 may serve as a marker for invasive growth. Enhanced ACE activity in cancer confirms the involvement of this enzyme in tumor progression. The morphologically normal tissue adjacent to the tumor shows the substantial expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and in some cases the enhanced activity of uPA and ACE, which makes an additional contribution to the increased invasive potential of tumor.

CONCLUSION

The findings are important in understanding the mechanisms of cancer progression and may affect therapeutic strategies for the patient.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 overexpression is closely related to poor prognosis in patients with colon cancer

Background

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is an important member of the matrix metalloproteinase family and is considered to be involved in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. This study analyzed the expression of MMP-9 in colon cancer patients and the relationship between this expression and clinicopathological features and survival.

Methods

We immunohistochemically investigated 68 specimens of colon cancer tissues and corresponding distal normal mucosa tissues using MMP-9 antibody. Then, the correlation between MMP-9 expression and clinicopathological features and its prognostic relevance were determined.

Results

The expression rate of MMP-9 in colon cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in distal normal mucosa (69.1% versus 2.9%, P < 0.001). Significant correlations were only found between high levels of MMP-9 expression and metastasis of lymph nodes and Dukes’ stage. Overexpression of MMP-9 was associated with shorter survival times in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis confirmed that MMP-9 expression was an independent prognostic factor.

Conclusions

MMP-9 is correlated with the metastasis of lymph nodes, and its elevated expression may be an adverse prognostic indicator for the patients of colon cancer.