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Updated: May 3, 2026
Enrichment of Extracellular Matrix Proteins from Tissues and Digestion into Peptides for Mass Spectrometry Analysis
Published on: July 23, 2015
Expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2, 7 and 9 in patients with colorectal cancer
Elena Kostova1, Maja Slaninka-Miceska2, Nikola Labacevski2
1Department of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. eli_kos_pet@yahoo.com
Background/Aim:
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are perceived to play a key role in tumor invasion and metastasis by their capacity to degrade basement membranes and extracellular matrix proteins. The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9 in tumor tissue and their relation to clinicopathologic features in patients with colorectal cancer.
Methods:
Specimens of resected colorectal cancer and surrounding normal tissue of 82 patients were immunohistochemically stained for MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9. The results of immunohistochemical expression of MMPs were correlated with some clinical and pathologic parameters.
Results:
Immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2 was more frequent in the patients with higher preoperative serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (p = 0.047), MMP-2 (p = 0.018), MMP-9 (p = 0.036) and in those with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.018) and the advanced stage of the disease (p = 0.046). Expression of MMP-7 was more frequent in the patients with elevated preoperative serum levels of: CEA (p = 0.012), MMP-7 (p = 0.036), MMP-9 (p = 0.023) and with deeply invasive neoplasms (p = 0.027). MMP-9 cell expression was in a positive correlation with elevated preoperative serum levels of: CEA (p = 0.013), MMP-2 (p = 0.012), MMP-9 (p = 0.018) and depth of CRC invasion, ie T-parameter (p = 0.027).
Conclusion:
Immunohistochemical expression of MMPs is a useful indicator of the disease development and progression in patients with colorectal cancer.
