The Clinical Significance of the Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Renal Cell Carcinoma / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endogenous peptidases that are capable of degrading various components of the basement membranes. To evaluate the clinical significance of the expressions of MMPs in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), the MMPs' expression in RCCs and non- neoplastic kidney tissues was examined to evaluate the clinical significance of the expressions of MMPs in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with RCCs (the RCC group), and eleven patients with non-neoplastic kidneys (the control group), were enrolled in this study between November 2002 and November 2003. The MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were estimated using gelatin zymography, and they were quantified using a laser densitometer. The results were compared with the clinicopathological characteristics. RESULTS: The expression of MMP-9 was significantly elevated in the RCC group compared with the control group (p0.05). The levels of MMP-9 expression in the RCC patients with a large tumor (>4cm) or vascular invasion were significantly higher than that in the patients without these clinical manifestations (p<0.01). There were also significant differences in the expression of MMP-9 among the T stages (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows a close relationship between the expression of MMP-9 and the tumor size and tumor stage in RCC. MMP-9 may be used as a prognostic marker and for the development of a novel treatment modality for RCC.