Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) by colorectal cancer cells and adjacent stroma cells - associations with histopathology and patients outcome

Søren Astrup Jensen, Ben Vainer, Annette Bartels, Nils Brunner, Jens Benn Sørensen

    38 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Aim: To elucidate cellular features accountable for colorectal cancers' (CRC) capability to invade normal tissue and to metastasize, we investigated the level of the collagenase matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and its physiological inhibitor tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) in cancer cells and supporting stroma cells of CRC. Methods: Immunoreactivity of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 by carcinoma cells, lymphocytes and fibroblasts in archival specimens of paraffin-embedded primary tumours were retrospectively associated with outcome in 340 consecutive patients completely resected for CRC stages II-IV and subsequently treated with adjuvant 5-fluorouracil. Results: Expression of MMP-9 by carcinoma cells was demonstrated in 9% of specimens without association to recurrence free survival (RFS) (HR = 1.0; 95% CI: 0.6-1.8; P = 0.9) or overall survival (OS) (HR = 0.9; 95% CI: 0.5-1.6; P = 0.6). TIMP-1 expression by carcinoma cells, which appeared in 64% of the specimens, was inversely related with RFS (HR = 1.3; 95% CI: 0.9-1.8; P = 0.08) and OS (HR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.1; P = 0.02). Expression of TIMP-1 by fibroblasts at the invasive border was directly related to RFS (HR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.6-0.9; P = 0.02) and OS (HR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.6-1.0; P = 0.05). Expression of MMP-9 by lymphocytes correlated significantly with the degree of peritumoural inflammation (P = 0.02) but not with RFS (HR = 0.9; 95% CI: 0.7-1.1; P = 0.2) or OS (HR = 0.8; 95% CI: 0.7-1.0; P = 0.07). Conclusion: TIMP-1 in cancer cells is associated with poor prognosis independent of its function as inhibitor of MMP-9. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 are important mediators of the host-cancer cell interaction in the tumour microenvironment with significant influence on the histopathology and on prognosis of CRC.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalEuropean Journal of Cancer
    Volume46
    Issue number18
    Pages (from-to)3233-3242
    Number of pages10
    ISSN0959-8049
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2010

    Keywords

    • Former LIFE faculty

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