Lorand Barabas
Semmelweis University, Hungary Hungarian Defence Forces, Hungary
Title: Th e behavior of serum MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 concentrations in colorectal cancer
Biography
Biography: Lorand Barabas
Abstract
Background: It has been previously shown that matrix metalloproteinase-9
(MMP-9) and its inhibitors (TIMPs) play role in colorectal cancer (CRC) invasion
and metastasis. However, the serum changes of MMP-9 and their inhibitors
(TIMP-1and TIMP-2) have scarcely been concomitantly investigated in normal
colon-CRC sequence and during treatment of CRC.
Methods: Th e MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 serum antigen concentrations were
determined in 22 tumor-free control patients and 46 patients with CRC by ELISA
technique. Th e analyzed parameters were also investigated before one month aft er
surgery and aft er chemotherapy. Statistical analysis with one-way ANOVA and
student’s t-test was performed. P values of <0.05 were considered signifi cant.
Results: Serum antigen levels of MMP-9 and TIMPs were signifi cantly increased
in patients with CRC compared to controls (mean±SD values, ng/ml) (MMP-
9: 741.43±365.79.79 vs. 589.18±165.17, p=0.03; TIMP-1: 182.01±50.06 vs.
165.28±31.17, p=0.03; TIMP-2: 124.14±31.81 vs. 99.74±28.46, p=0.007).
Elevated serum MMP-9 levels showed a trend toward higher in advanced tumor
stages. Serum antigen levels of MMP-9 signifi cantly dropped aft er surgical and
oncological therapy (741.43±365.79 vs. 647.64±386.61, p=0.02).
Conclusions: We confi rm that serum antigen concentrations of MMP-9, TIMP-
1 and TIMP-2 were signifi cantly increased in patients with CRC compared to
controls. Th ese results suggest that MMP-9 and its inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-
2 play an important role in CRC invasion. Furthermore, MMP-9 may have a
prognostic impact in CRC and can be considered an additional potential clinical
marker of the effi cacy of surgical and oncological therapy.