Matrix metalloproteinase-7 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 are associated with unfavourable prognosis in superficial oesophageal cancer

• Published in: British journal of cancer Vol. 89; no. 11; pp. 2116 - 2121
• Main Authors: TANIOKA, Y, YOSHIDA, T, YAGAWA, T, SAIKI, Y, TAKEO, S, HARADA, T, OKAZAWA, T, YANAI, H, OKITA, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 01-12-2003
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - enzymology; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer research; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - enzymology; Endoscopy; Esophageal cancer; Esophageal Neoplasms - enzymology; Extracellular matrix; Female; Gastroenterology; Hepatology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lymphatic system; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - metabolism; Medical prognosis; Medical research; Medical sciences; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Molecular and Cellular Pathology; Prognosis; Survival Analysis; Tumors; Prognosis; prognostic factor; Digestive system; Enzyme; matrix metalloproteinase-9; Metalloendopeptidases; Malignant lymphadenopathy; Malignant tumor; Gelatinase B; Esophagus; Peptidases; Cancerology; Hydrolases; Matrilysin; lymph node metastasis; superficial oesophageal cancer matrix metalloproteinase-7
• ISSN: 0007-0920; 1532-1827
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6601372

If oesophageal carcinoma is detected in the superficial stage, the prognosis is better than for advanced oesophageal carcinoma. But the factors which predict the prognosis and treatment policy remain unclear. Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) have been reported to have close associations with tumour invasion and metastasis. In this study, we retrospectively studied the relations between MMP-7 and MMP-9 expression in immunohistochemistry, clinicopathologic factors, and prognosis in 55 superficial oesophageal carcinomas. MMP-7 and MMP-9 expression occurred in 23.6% and 47.3% of the patients, respectively. MMP-7 expression was significantly correlated with the presence of nodal metastasis (P=0.004). MMP-9 expression was significantly correlated with the depth of tumour invasion (P=0.004), lymphatic permeation (P=0.001), nodal metastasis (P=0.049), and pathologic differentiation grade (P=0.003). By the log-rank test, MMP-7 expression and MMP-9 expression on the invasive front were related to the prognosis. In multivariate analysis, MMP-9 expression on the invasive front was an independent prognostic indicator. The combined expression of MMP-7 and MMP-9 may be a good marker for the degree of malignancy of oesophageal cancer and for the presence of lymphatic metastasis.