Objectives: To explore the relationship of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) to the oncogenesis and development of colorectal neoplasm.
Methods: RT-PCR was used to assay the level of MMP-2, MT1-MMP, MMP-7, TIMP-2, TIMP-3 mRNA in 28 cases of colorectal cancer, including tumor tissue and surrounding normal tissue.
Results: MMP-2, MT1-MMP, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 were over-expressed in tumor and normal tissues, and MMP-7 was strong-expressed in tumor tissue but was weak-expressed only in one case of normal tissue. The expression of MMP-7 in tumor tissue was correlated to Dukes stage (P < 0.01). The expression of TIMP-2 in tumor tissue with positive-node was much higher than that with negative-node (P < 0.01). The expression of TIMP-3 was decreased with the Dukes stage and the depth of invasion (P < 0.01). There were no correlations between MMPs and TIMPs (P > 0.1).
Conclusions: The expression of MMP-7 mRNA has a high specificity in colorectal cancer. MMP-7 may become a sensitive tumor marker. Inducing TIMP-2, TIMP-3 or suppressing MMP-2, MT1-MMP, MMP-7 mRNA's expressions may inhibit the invasion and metastasis of cancer.