Vol 49, No 1 (2011)
Original paper
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2011-04-19
Clinical significance of serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-2) in gastric cancer
Barbara Mroczko, Marta Łukaszewicz-Zając, Mariusz Gryko, Bogusław Kędra, Maciej Szmitkowski
DOI: 10.5603/FHC.2011.0018
·
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2011;49(1):125-131.
Vol 49, No 1 (2011)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2011-04-19
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) is able to degrade type IV collagen, and thus plays a key role
in the migration of tumor cells. MMP-2 activity is inhibited by its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-2). The imbalance
between MMPs and TIMPs may facilitate progression of cancer cells. The aim of this study was to compare the
clinical importance of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 to that of classical tumor markers, namely carcinoembryonic antigen
(CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) in the diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC) by calculating the
diagnostic criteria and estimating the levels of MMP-2, TIMP-2, CEA and CA 19-9 in GC patients in relation
to clinicopathological features of cancer. We found that serum levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were significantly
lower, whereas serum tumor markers were higher, in GC patients than in healthy subjects. Moreover, concentrations
of TIMP-2 and CEA correlated with gastric wall infiltration, while CA 19-9 levels correlated with
gastric wall infiltration and the presence of nodal metastasis. None of the proteins tested was found to be an
independent prognostic factor for GC patients’ survival. The percentage of true positive results of TIMP-2
(61%) was higher than those of MMP-2 (54%) and the classical tumor markers CEA (21%) and CA 19-9
(31%). The highest diagnostic sensitivity was observed for the combined use of TIMP-2 with MMP-2 (77%).
The results suggest the greater importance of serum MMP-2 and TIMP-2 than of the classical tumor markers
CEA and CA 19-9 in the diagnosis of GC. But this issue requires further investigation. (Folia Histochemica et
Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 125–131)
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) is able to degrade type IV collagen, and thus plays a key role
in the migration of tumor cells. MMP-2 activity is inhibited by its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-2). The imbalance
between MMPs and TIMPs may facilitate progression of cancer cells. The aim of this study was to compare the
clinical importance of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 to that of classical tumor markers, namely carcinoembryonic antigen
(CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) in the diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC) by calculating the
diagnostic criteria and estimating the levels of MMP-2, TIMP-2, CEA and CA 19-9 in GC patients in relation
to clinicopathological features of cancer. We found that serum levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were significantly
lower, whereas serum tumor markers were higher, in GC patients than in healthy subjects. Moreover, concentrations
of TIMP-2 and CEA correlated with gastric wall infiltration, while CA 19-9 levels correlated with
gastric wall infiltration and the presence of nodal metastasis. None of the proteins tested was found to be an
independent prognostic factor for GC patients’ survival. The percentage of true positive results of TIMP-2
(61%) was higher than those of MMP-2 (54%) and the classical tumor markers CEA (21%) and CA 19-9
(31%). The highest diagnostic sensitivity was observed for the combined use of TIMP-2 with MMP-2 (77%).
The results suggest the greater importance of serum MMP-2 and TIMP-2 than of the classical tumor markers
CEA and CA 19-9 in the diagnosis of GC. But this issue requires further investigation. (Folia Histochemica et
Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 125–131)
Keywords
gastric cancer; MMP-2; TIMP-2; tumor marker
Title
Clinical significance of serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-2) in gastric cancer
Journal
Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica
Issue
Vol 49, No 1 (2011)
Article type
Original paper
Pages
125-131
Published online
2011-04-19
Page views
1793
Article views/downloads
1959
DOI
10.5603/FHC.2011.0018
Bibliographic record
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2011;49(1):125-131.
Keywords
gastric cancer
MMP-2
TIMP-2
tumor marker
Authors
Barbara Mroczko
Marta Łukaszewicz-Zając
Mariusz Gryko
Bogusław Kędra
Maciej Szmitkowski
About this article