Pretreatment serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are two proteins involved in angiogenesis. In the present study we investigated the association of pretreatment MMP-9 and VEGF serum levels with clinicopathological parameters and outcome in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

From February 1998 to October 1999, pretreatment serum levels of MMP-9 and VEGF were analysed in 118 patients with enzyme-linked immunoassays. At diagnosis 50 patients (42%) were staged as early disease (I/II), 27 patients (23%) as locally advanced (IIIA/IIIB), and 41 patients (35%) had metastatic disease (IV). In 72 of the 118 patients tumours were resected and 46 patients received combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and vinorelbine.

RESULTS:

The median survival of all 118 patients was 602 days. The 72 patients who had undergone surgery had a median survival of 972 days and the 46 patients who were treated with chemotherapy had a median survival of 298 days (P <0.001). Resected patients with stage I/II disease and an MMP-9 serum level <or=1293 ng/ml or a VEGF serum level <or=630 pg/ml had a significantly longer survival (median survival longer than 1218 days) than patients with higher serum levels (median survival 421 days) (P = 0.001 for MMP-9; P = 0.04 for VEGF). No significant difference in survival was observed in patients with resected stage III disease. Besides tumour stage, Karnofsky performance status and gender, the pretreatment serum level of MMP-9 was identified as an independent prognostic factor in a multivariate Cox regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Future studies may support our hypothesis that the pretreatment serum level of MMP-9 is a new powerful prognostic marker and can help to stratify NSCLC patients with stage I/II disease into low- and high-risk groups.

• Authors: E Laack, A Köhler, C Kugler, T Dierlamm, C Knuffmann, G Vohwinkel, A Niestroy, N Dahlmann, A Peters, J Berger, W Fiedler, D K Hossfeld
• Journal: Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology (Ann Oncol) Vol. 13 Issue 10 Pg. 1550-7 (Oct 2002) ISSN: 0923-7534 [Print] England
• PMID: 12377642 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Endothelial Growth Factors
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Lymphokines
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
• Deoxycytidine
• Vinblastine
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
• Vinorelbine
• Gemcitabine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (drug therapy, pathology)
• Deoxycytidine (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
• Endothelial Growth Factors (blood)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Health Status
• Humans
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins (blood)
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Lymphokines (blood)
• Male
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (blood)
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Prognosis
• Survival
• Treatment Outcome
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
• Vinblastine (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
• Vinorelbine
• Gemcitabine