MMP-10, MMP-7, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA expression in esophageal cancer

摘要

Introduction: Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases(TIMP) and the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are involvedin the spread of cancer. Methods: We have evaluatedthe matrix metalloproteinases’ (MMP-10, MMP-7)and their inhibitors’ (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases– TIMP-1, TIMP-2) mRNA expression in 61 esophagealcancer samples from patients who had undergonesurgery, by using real-time quantitative RT-PCR, andcorrelated the results with the patient clinicopathologicfeatures. Results: MMP-10, MMP-7, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 wereoverexpressed in 73%, 85%, 55% and 42% of esophagealcancer samples, respectively. The expression of MMP-10,TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 correlated with the tumor size. TheMMP-7 overexpression was associated with the tumourstage (I, II vs III, p=0.05) and lymph node metastasis (N0vs N1, p=0.037). Conclusions: We conclude that in theresected esophageal cancer an increased mRNA expressionof MMP-7, MMP-10 and TIMP-1 correlated with clinicopathologicfeatures. We suggest that these genes mayplay a role during progression of the disease.