摘要
Lung cancer is a major cause of death from malignant disease due to its high incidence, malignant behavior and lack of major advancements in treatment strategies. The ability to invade tissues and establish colonies at remote sites is a defining characteristic of malignant neoplasms. Matrix metalloproteinases ( MMPs) are zinc proteinases that degrade compounds of extracellular matrix (ECM). These enzymes have been implicated in tumour invasion and metastasis through degrading many extracellular matrix proteins especially MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are regarded as markers of tumour invasion and metastasis.(1) The purpose of this study is to examine the role of MMP-9, MMP-2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and MMP-9/TIMP-1 in tumour invasion and metastasis as well as the relationships between the mRNA expression of MMP-9 in white blood cells and MMP-9 levels in the plasma.
Lung cancer is a major cause of death from malignant disease due to its high incidence, malignant behavior and lack of major advancements in treatment strategies. The ability to invade tissues and establish colonies at remote sites is a defining characteristic of malignant neoplasms. Matrix metalloproteinases ( MMPs) are zinc proteinases that degrade compounds of extracellular matrix (ECM). These enzymes have been implicated in tumour invasion and metastasis through degrading many extracellular matrix proteins especially MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are regarded as markers of tumour invasion and metastasis.(1) The purpose of this study is to examine the role of MMP-9, MMP-2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and MMP-9/TIMP-1 in tumour invasion and metastasis as well as the relationships between the mRNA expression of MMP-9 in white blood cells and MMP-9 levels in the plasma.
