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Matrix metalloprotease-9 in cerebrospinal fluid correlates with disease activity in lymphomatous meningitis

Eric T Wong1, Diana Lee, Angela Tam

  • 1Brain Tumor Center & Neuro-Oncology Unit, Harvard Medical School & Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA. ewong@bidmc.harvard.edu

Clinical Lymphoma & Myeloma
|February 28, 2007
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) levels in cerebrospinal fluid strongly correlate with lymphomatous meningitis. This biomarker shows promise for diagnosing this challenging condition, unlike other MMPs tested.

Area of Science:

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Biochemistry
  • Diagnostic biomarkers

Background:

  • Diagnosing lymphomatous meningitis via cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology is limited by low sensitivity.
  • Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are implicated in cancer invasion and angiogenesis, suggesting a role in CNS lymphomas.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between MMPs in CSF and the diagnosis of lymphomatous meningitis.
  • To evaluate MMP-2, MMP-9, activated MMP-9, and 130 kDa MMP as potential biomarkers.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 29 CSF samples from 5 patients with primary or metastatic CNS lymphomas.
  • Zymography was used to measure MMP levels, correlated with CSF cytology, total protein, and glucose.

Main Results:

  • Elevated CSF white blood cells and MMP-9 levels showed a strong correlation with abnormal CSF cytology (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively).
  • Activated MMP-9 levels fluctuated with disease activity, but the correlation with abnormal cytology did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.17).

Conclusions:

  • Matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) is a promising biomarker strongly correlated with lymphomatous meningitis.
  • MMP-2, activated MMP-2, activated MMP-9, and 130 kDa MMP were not found to be significantly correlated with the condition.

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