MMP-10, MMP-7, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA expression in esophageal cancer

Introduction: Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) and the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are involved in the spread of cancer. Methods: We have evaluated the matrix metalloproteinases' (MMP-10, MMP-7) and their inhibitors' (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases - TIMP-1, TIMP-2) mRNA expression in 61 esophageal cancer samples from patients who had undergone surgery, by using real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and correlated the results with the patient clinicopathologic features. Results: MMP-10, MMP-7, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 were overexpressed in 73%, 85%, 55% and 42% of esophageal cancer samples, respectively. The expression of MMP-10, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 correlated with the tumor size. The MMP-7 overexpression was associated with the tumour stage (I, II vs III, p=0.05) and lymph node metastasis (N0 vs N1, p=0.037). Conclusions: We conclude that in the resected esophageal cancer an increased mRNA expression of MMP-7, MMP-10 and TIMP-1 correlated with clinicopathologic features. We suggest that these genes may play a role during progression of the disease.