The possible role of insulin-like growth factors and matrix metalloproteinases as a diagnostic of colorectal cancer.

B15

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and insulin-like growth factors (IGF) are known to be involved in the process of tumor invasion and progression (1, 2). Previous research has shown that the concentration of these proteins can change in the sera of cancer patients (3, 4). Our objective was to investigate the potential diagnostic value of circulating MMPs and IGFs in subjects with colorectal cancer. Enzyme linked immunoassays were used to quantify the concentrations of MMP-2, -7, -9, IGF-I, -II and IGF-BP3 in the plasma and serum of 51 preoperative colorectal cancer patients and 50 control subjects. Colorectal cancer subjects had lower serum MMP-2 (p<0.05), IGF-II (p<0.05) and IGF-BP3 (p<0.01) in comparison to the control subjects. The concentration of MMP-7 (p<0.05) was higher in the colorectal cancer subjects in comparison to control subjects. These results suggest a possible role for the use of these proteins in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. 1. Manousos, O., et al. Int J Cancer, 83: 15-7, 1999. 2. Zucker, S., and Vacirca, J. Cancer Metastasis Rev, 23: 101-17, 2004. 3. Renehan, A. G., et al. Br J Surg, 88: 107-13, 2001. 4. Tutton, M., et al. Int J Cancer, 107: 541-50, 2003.