association between helicobacter pylori cytotoxin associated gene A, vacuolating cytotoxin antigen, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in cancer patients

ABSTRACT

This work aimed at studying the frequency of H. pylori in various solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Also, the association between H. pylori virulence markers [cytotoxin associated gene A, cagA and vacuolating cytotoxin antigen, vacA gene] expression and the plasma level of MMP-9 and its inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 [TIMP-1] in advanced cancer patients was investigated. This study included 17 patients with solid tumors including 8 patients with gastric patients having H. pylori -ve gastric ulcer [served as controls]. All patients and controls complained of dyspepsia. Multiple gastric biopsy specimens from antral and body regions were taken from all cases and controls and tested by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] for the expression of cagA and vacA genes. Plasma MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were measured using ELISA technique. The frequency of H. pylori in this study was 50%, 44.44% and 6 1.54% in gastric cancer, solid tumors and hematological malignancies, respectively. Significant increase in plasma MMP-9 level was detected in solid tumors and hematological malignancies compared to controls. Plasma MMP-9 level was also significantly higher in H. pylori +ve than H. pylori -ve cases with significantly higher values in those expressing cagA than those expressing vacA gene. The highest MMP-9 was present among H. pylori +ve patients with gastroduodenitis. It was concluded that the presence of H. pylori virulence markers especially cagA gene may play a role in cancer progression in cancer patients. So, its early detection and eradication may be beneficial in these patients