Role of Matrilysins (MMP-7, MMP-26) and Stromelysins (MMP-3, MMP-10) in Diagnosing Cervical Cancer Patients

Background/Objectives: Detection of cervical lesions is crucial for effective prevention and treatment. Therefore, the search for new diagnostic markers is extremely important. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration and diagnostic utility of selected matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as novel biomarkers. Methods: The study group consisted of 320 participants: 160 patients with cervical cancer (CC), 100 patients with cervical dysplasia (CD), and 60 healthy controls (HC). MMPs were determined by an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), and CA 125 and SCC-Ag by a CMIA (chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay). Results: Our study revealed significantly higher concentrations of MMP-7 and MMP-10 in the CC and CD groups compared to healthy controls. Interestingly, concentrations of these two parameters increased with the advancement of the disease. In the case of MMP-3, the highest concentrations were observed in the CD group, moderate concentrations in the group with diagnosed CC, and the lowest in the group of healthy women. Notably, the concentration of this parameter in the CC group decreased with increasing disease advancement. In the case of MMP-26, the highest concentrations, which increased with advancement, were observed in CC, moderate concentrations in HC, and the lowest in the group of women with CD. The highest diagnostic usefulness among all the parameters was shown for MMP-7 (sensitivity (SE): 96%; specificity (SP): 94.14%; positive predictive value (PPV): 92.26%; negative predictive value (NPV): 85.46%; area under the curve (AUC): 0.9878) and MMP-10 (SE: 90.25%; SP: 80.05%; PPV: 92.15%; NPV: 88.45%; AUC: 0.9404). Conclusions: All parameters presented significant differences between the concentrations obtained in the CC group and the CD group, which may indicate their usefulness not only in the diagnosis of cervical cancer, but also in the possible differentiation between benign and malignant lesions.