M(r) 92,000 type IV collagenase is increased in plasma of patients with colon cancer and breast cancer

Cancer Res. 1993 Jan 1;53(1):140-6.

Abstract

Overproduction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is a common characteristic of metastatic cancer cells. Since MMPs can be identified in plasma, we proposed that enhanced MMP-9 secretion by invasive cancer cells may be detected by plasma assay. To this end, we developed a specific sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay which uses two mouse monoclonal antibodies to human M(r) 92,000 type IV collagenase (MMP-9). The plasma concentration of MMP-9 (mean +/- SD) in 60 healthy subjects (9 +/- 11 ng/ml), 136 patients without cancer, and 179 patients with cancer of the lung, genitourinary tract, or lymphomas-leukemias did not differ significantly. In contrast, plasma MMP-9 was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in 122 patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer and breast cancer (18 +/- 23 and 21 +/- 22 ng/ml, respectively). Whereas carcinoembryonic antigen levels were significantly increased in patients with stage IV gastrointestinal cancer, MMP-9 concentrations were not significantly increased in patients with metastatic disease as compared to those with nonmetastatic cancer. Combining both assays improves sensitivity of detection of colon cancer. MMP-9 was also significantly increased during pregnancy which is consistent with the extensive ongoing tissue remodeling and the leaching of the tissue proteinase into plasma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Collagenases / blood*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Collagenases
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9