Elevated serum levels of MMP-11 correlate with poor prognosis in colon cancer patients

Diagnostic Utility of Selected Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-11, MMP-26), HE4, CA125 and ROMA Algorithm in Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) has an unfavorable prognosis. Due to the lack of effective screening tests, new diagnostic methods are being sought to detect OC earlier. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration and diagnostic utility of selected matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as OC markers in comparison with HE4, CA125 and the ROMA algorithm. The study group consisted of 120 patients with OC; the comparison group consisted of 70 patients with benign lesions and 50 healthy women. MMPs were determined via the ELISA method, HE4 and CA125 by CMIA. Patients with OC had elevated levels of MMP-3 and MMP-11, similar to HE4, CA125 and ROMA values. The highest SE, SP, NPV and PPV values were found for MMP-26, CA125 and ROMA in OC patients. Performing combined analyses of ROMA with selected MMPs increased the values of diagnostic parameters. The topmost diagnostic power of the test was obtained for MMP-26, CA125, HE4 and ROMA and performing combined analyses of MMPs and ROMA enhanced the diagnostic power of the test. The obtained results indicate that the tested MMPs do not show potential as stand-alone OC biomarkers, but can be considered as additional tests to raise the diagnostic utility of the ROMA algorithm.

Selected Cytokines and Metalloproteinases in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a collective term for two diseases: ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). There are many factors, e.g., genetic, environmental and immunological, that increase the likelihood of these diseases. Indicators of IBDs include extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The aim of this review is to present data on the role of selected cytokines and metalloproteinases in IBD. In recent years, more and more transcriptomic studies are emerging. These studies are improving the characterization of the cytokine microenvironment inside inflamed tissue. It is observed that the levels of several cytokines are consistently increased in inflamed tissue in IBD, both in UC and CD. This review shows that MMPs play a major role in the pathology of inflammatory processes, cancer, and IBD. IBD-associated inflammation is associated with increased expression of MMPs and reduced ability of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) to inhibit their action. In IBD patients in tissues that are inflamed, MMPs are produced in excess and TIMP activity is not sufficient to block MMPs. This review is based on our personal selection of the literature that was retrieved by a selective search in PubMed using the terms "Inflammatory bowel disease" and "pathogenesis of Inflammatory bowel diseases" that includes systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical trials. The involvement of the immune system in the pathophysiology of IBD is reviewed in terms of the role of the cytokines and metalloproteinases involved.

The Impact of Matrix Metalloproteinase-11 Polymorphisms on Colorectal Cancer Progression and Clinicopathological Characteristics

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide and the most prevalent cancer in Taiwan. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-11 is a proteolytic enzyme of the MMP family which is involved in extracellular matrix degradation and tissue remodeling. In this study, we focused on the associations of MMP-11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with CRC susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics. The MMP-11 SNPs rs131451, rs738791, rs2267029, rs738792, and rs28382575 in 479 controls and 479 patients with CRC were analyzed with real-time polymerase chain reaction. We found that the MMP-11 SNP rs738792 “TC + CC” genotype was significantly associated with perineural invasion in colon cancer patients after controlling for clinical parameters [OR (95% CI) = 1.783 (1.074–2.960); p = 0.025]. The MMP-11 rs131451 “TC + CC” genotypic variants were correlated with greater tumor T status [OR (95% CI):1.254 (1.025–1.534); p = 0.028] and perineural invasion [OR (95% CI):1.773 (1.027–3.062); p = 0.040) in male CRC patients. Furthermore, analyses of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed that MMP-11 levels were upregulated in colorectal carcinoma tissue compared with normal tissues and were correlated with advanced stage, larger tumor sizes, and lymph node metastasis. Moreover, the data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database exhibited that the MMP-11 rs738792 “CC” and “CT” genotypic variants have higher MMP-11 expression than the “TT” genotype. In conclusion, our results have demonstrated that the MMP-11 SNPs rs738792 and rs131451 may have potential to provide biomarkers to evaluate CRC disease progression, and the MMP-11 rs131451 polymorphism may shed light on sex discrepancy in CRC development and prognosis.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Expression and Prognosis for MMPs in Human Colorectal Cancer

Background

Previous study implicated that genes of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family play an important role in tumor invasion, neoangiogenesis, and metastasis. However, the diverse expression patterns and prognostic values of 24 MMPs in colorectal cancer are yet to be analyzed.

Methods

In this study, by integrating public database and our data, we first investigated the expression levels and protein levels of MMPs in patients with colorectal cancer. Then, by using TCGA and GEO datasets, we evaluated the association of MMPs with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Finally, by using the cBioPortal online tool, we analyzed the alterations of MMPs and did the network and pathway analyses for MMPs and their nearby genes.

Results

We found that, MMP1, MMP3, MMP7, MMP9–MMP12, and MMP14 were consistently upregulated in public dataset and our samples. Whereas, MMP28 was consistently downregulated in public dataset and our samples. In the clinicopathological analyses, upregulated MMP11, MMP14, MMP16, MMP17, MMP19, and MMP23B were significantly associated with a higher tumor stage. In the survival analyses, upregulated MMP11, MMP14, MMP17, and MMP19 were significantly associated with a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) time and a shorter relapse-free (RFS) time.

Discussion

This study implied that MMP11, MMP14, MMP17, and MMP19 are potential targets of precision therapy for patients with colorectal cancer.

Diagnostic values of MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-11, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, CEA, and CA19-9 in patients with colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and lethal malignancies. The identification of precise and noninvasive biomarkers is urgently needed to aid the early diagnosis and clinical management of CRC.

METHODS

A total of 112 patients with CRC and 115 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, MMP-9, MMP-11, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, and TIMP-2 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 levels were measured using an automatic immunoassay analyzer.

RESULTS

MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-11, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, CEA, and CA19-9 levels were all significantly higher in CRC patients compared with healthy controls. MMP-7, TIMP-1, and CEA levels were also closely related to clinicopathologic features in patients with CRC. The combination of serum CEA, MMP-7, and TIMP-1 significantly improved the diagnostic value compared with any single marker (area under the curve 0.858-0.890). Furthermore, a combined detection model including MMP-7, TIMP-1, and CEA improved both the specificity and sensitivity for detecting CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that combined detection of CEA, MMP-7, and TIMP-1 in serum could provide a specific and sensitive biomarker for the diagnosis of CRC.

ETV4 plays a role on the primary events during the adenoma-adenocarcinoma progression in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide; it is the fourth leading cause of death in the world and the third in Brazil. Mutations in the APC, DCC, KRAS and TP53 genes have been associated with the progression of sporadic CRC, occurring at defined pathological stages of the tumor progression and consequently modulating several genes in the corresponding signaling pathways. Therefore, the identification of gene signatures that occur at each stage during the CRC progression is critical and can present an impact on the diagnosis and prognosis of the patient. In this study, our main goal was to determine these signatures, by evaluating the gene expression of paired colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma samples to identify novel genetic markers in association to the adenoma-adenocarcinoma stage transition.

METHODS

Ten paired adenoma and adenocarcinoma colorectal samples were subjected to microarray gene expression analysis. In addition, mutations in APC, KRAS and TP53 genes were investigated by DNA sequencing in paired samples of adenoma, adenocarcinoma, normal tissue, and peripheral blood from ten patients.

RESULTS

Gene expression analysis revealed a signature of 689 differentially expressed genes (DEG) (fold-change> 2, p< 0.05), between the adenoma and adenocarcinoma paired samples analyzed. Gene pathway analysis using the 689 DEG identified important cancer pathways such as remodeling of the extracellular matrix and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Among these DEG, the ETV4 stood out as one of the most expressed in the adenocarcinoma samples, further confirmed in the adenocarcinoma set of samples from the TCGA database. Subsequent in vitro siRNA assays against ETV4 resulted in the decrease of cell proliferation, colony formation and cell migration in the HT29 and SW480 colorectal cell lines. DNA sequencing analysis revealed KRAS and TP53 gene pathogenic mutations, exclusively in the adenocarcinomas samples.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified a set of genes with high potential to be used as biomarkers in CRC, with a special emphasis on the ETV4 gene, which demonstrated involvement in proliferation and migration.

Colon cancer-specific diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers based on genome-wide abnormal DNA methylation

Abnormal DNA methylation is a major early contributor to colon cancer (COAD) development. We conducted a cohort-based systematic investigation of genome-wide DNA methylation using 299 COAD and 38 normal tissue samples from TCGA. Through conditional screening and machine learning with a training cohort, we identified one hypomethylated and nine hypermethylated differentially methylated CpG sites as potential diagnostic biomarkers, and used them to construct a COAD-specific diagnostic model. Unlike previous models, our model precisely distinguished COAD from nine other cancer types (e.g., breast cancer and liver cancer; error rate ≤ 0.05) and from normal tissues in the training cohort (AUC = 1). The diagnostic model was verified using a validation cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (AUC = 1) and five independent cohorts from the Gene Expression Omnibus (AUC ≥ 0.951). Using Cox regression analyses, we established a prognostic model based on six CpG sites in the training cohort, and verified the model in the validation cohort. The prognostic model sensitively predicted patients’ survival (p ≤ 0.00011, AUC ≥ 0.792) independently of important clinicopathological characteristics of COAD (e.g., gender and age). Thus, our DNA methylation analysis provided precise biomarkers and models for the early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of COAD.

Matrilysins and Stromelysins in Pathogenesis and Diagnostics of Cancers

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases which are widely studied in terms of their role in the physiological and pathological processes in the organism. In this article, we consider usefulness of matrilysins and stromelysins in pathogenesis and diagnostic of the most common malignancies in the world, e.g., lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. In all of the mentioned cancers, matrilysins and stromelysins have a pivotal role in their development and also may have diagnostic utility. Influence to the cancerous process is connected with specific dependencies between these enzymes and components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), non-matrix components like cell surface components. All the information provided below allows to take a closer look at matrilysins and stromelysins and their functions in the cancer development.

Long non-coding RNA SNHG6 increases JAK2 expression by targeting the miR-181 family to promote colorectal cancer cell proliferation

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 (SNHG6) exerts a regulatory role in cancer biology, although its detailed functions and mechanisms in colorectal cancer (CRC) still remain unclear.

METHODS

A quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was implemented to investigate the expression of SNHG6, miR-181 family and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) in CRC tissues and cell lines. The proliferation of CRC cells was detected by a cell counting kit-8 assay, and the apoptosis of CRC cells was determined by flow cytometry analysis. The interaction of the miR-181 family with SNHG6 or with the 3'-untranslated region of JAK2 was validated by the luciferase reporter gene method. The effects of SNHG6 and the miR-181 family on JAK2 expression were analyzed by western blotting.

RESULTS

SNHG6 was significantly up-regulated in CRC samples. The knockdown of SNHG6 reduced the proliferation of CRC cells and promoted the apoptosis, whereas the over-expression of SNHG6 had the opposite effect. SNHG6 could bind with all the four members of the miR-181 family, and expression in miR-181 family members was significantly down-regulated in CRC samples. SNHG6 expression was negatively correlated with the miR-181 family member expression in CRC samples. Moreover, over-expressed SNHG6 significantly counteracted the inhibitory effect of miR-181 mimics on CRC cell proliferation, as well as the promoting effect on apoptosis. Furthermore, SNHG6 over-expression and knockdown can promote and inhibit JAK2 expression, respectively, and miR-181 family member function is opposite to that of SNHG6 by repressing JAK2.

CONCLUSIONS

SNHG6 can exert a cancer-promoting effect in CRC by targeting miR-181 family members and up-regulating JAK2.

RP11-462C24.1 suppresses proliferation and invasion of colorectal carcinoma cells by regulating HSP70 through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death around the world. In this study, we investigated the roles of LncRNA RP11-462C24.1 in CRC. The expressions of RP11-462C24.1 in CRC tissues and cells were measured. Then, the effects of RP11-462C24.1 on CRC proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and invasion were evaluated both in vivo and in vitro; Last, the underlying mechanisms of concerning the signaling pathway regulated by RP11-462C24.1 was determined. From the results, we found that RP11-462C24.1 was significantly decreased in CRC tumor tissues and the CRC cell lines, which were most significant in SW480 and HT-29 cell lines; moreover, transient overexpression of RP11-462C24.1 suppressed the growth and migration while promoted apoptosis of SW480 and HT-29 cells, while knockdown of RP11-462C24.1 has shown the opposite effects; RP11-462C24.1 may also inhibit the growth of CRC tumors in xenograft mice models; additionally, 70 kD heat shock proteins (HSP70) has been identified as one of the most significantly deferentially expressed genes by RNA-seq, and we further confirmed that RP11-462C24.1 may affect the growth and metathesis of CRC cells via regulating HSP70 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In summary, these results indicated that RP11-462C24 may function as a tumor suppressor in the development of CRC.

Matrix Metalloproteinase 11 as a Novel Tumor Promoter and Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP-11) was found to be implicated in tumorigenesis in cancers. However, the significance of MMP-11 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is unclear.

METHODS

In the study, we detected malignant biological behaviors of pancreatic cancer after downregulation of MMP-11. Furthermore, we explored the possible mechanism, and the diagnostic value of serum MMP-11 level was analyzed in 116 patients with pathologically confirmed PDAC. In addition, we explored their prognostic value in PDAC.

RESULTS

We observed that MMP-11 could be expressed and activated in the cytoplasm of PDAC cells. Immunohistochemistry staining of PDAC tissues showed that MMP-11 was highly expressed in cancerous ductal epithelium instead of cancer stroma. We found that downregulation of MMP-11 inhibited proliferation of PDAC cell lines. The expression levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and cyclin D1 were downregulated after MMP-11 knockdown. As for its clinical value, the serum level of MMP-11 was shown to be a potent promising diagnostic marker for PDAC.

CONCLUSIONS

Matrix metalloproteinase 11 may act as a tumor promoter, playing a positive role in PDAC development. Serum MMP-11 also has great potential to be a promising diagnostic marker for PDAC.

Estimation of serum matrix metalloproteinases among patients of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective

To estimate the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and in healthy subjects.

Methods

In this observational study, biopsy diagnosed oral squamous cell carcinoma patients (n= 38) were recruited from Mayo Hospital, Lahore during 2016 to 2017. Age and gender matched Controls (n= 38) were also included. Venous blood sample of each participant was drawn, serum separated and the levels of matrix metalloproteinases were measured by multiplex ELISA.

Results

Serum levels of MMP-1, -8, -10, -12 and -13 in OSCC patients showed statistically significant increase as compared to control group (p < 0.01). The MMP-12 predicted the presence of OSCC with highest AUC of 0.836 (95% CI [0.733 to 0.911]) for sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 78.9%, respectively for a cut-off value of 16.13 pg/ml.

Conclusions

MMP-12 has been found to have significant sensitivity and specificity to qualify as a diagnostic biomarker.

Identification of Biomarkers Correlated with the TNM Staging and Overall Survival of Patients with Bladder Cancer

Objective: To identify candidate biomarkers correlated with clinical prognosis of patients with bladder cancer (BC). Methods: Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was applied to build a co-expression network to identify hub genes correlated with tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging of BC patients. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted to functionally annotate the hub genes. Protein-protein interaction network analysis of hub genes was performed to identify the interactions among the hub genes. Survival analyses were conducted to characterize the role of hub genes on the survival of BC patients. Gene set enrichment analyses were conducted to find the potential mechanisms involved in the tumor proliferation promoted by hub genes. Results: Based on the results of topological overlap measure based clustering and the inclusion criteria, top 50 hub genes were identified. Hub genes were enriched in cell proliferation associated gene ontology terms (mitotic sister chromatid segregation, mitotic cell cycle and, cell cycle, etc.) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways (cell cycle, Oocyte meiosis, etc.). 17 hub genes were found to interact with ≥5 of the hub genes. Survival analysis of hub genes suggested that lower expression of MMP11, COL5A2, CDC25B, TOP2A, CENPF, CDCA3, TK1, TPX2, CDCA8, AEBP1, and FOXM1were associated with better overall survival of BC patients. BC samples with higher expression of hub genes were enriched in gene sets associated with P53 pathway, apical junction, mitotic spindle, G2M checkpoint, and myogenesis, etc. Conclusions: We identified several candidate biomarkers correlated with the TNM staging and overall survival of BC patients. Accordingly, they might be used as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets with clinical utility.