Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) inhibits the ability of
cancer cells to metastasize, but it can also stimulate
cancer development. The aim of this study was to assess the level of
TIMP-1 in serum and its expression in patients with
colorectal cancer (CRC). The study group consisted of 43 patients diagnosed with
colorectal cancer and 24 healthy volunteers. The level of
TIMP-1 was assessed by the ELISA method while the expression of this
protein was performed immunohistochemically. The concentration of
TIMP-1 in the sera of
colorectal cancer patients was significantly higher than in the healthy control group (p = 0.004). Higher level of
TIMP-1 in the sera correlated with female gender (p = 0.045),
tumor location in colon (p = 0.016), poorly differentiated
tumor (p = 0.034) and higher platelet count in whole blood (p < 0.004). A positive reaction of the
protein in
cancer cells was observed in 31 cases and was found to correlate negatively with its reaction in peritumoral stroma (p < 0.001). According to this study,
TIMP-1 protein may play an important role in
cancer development. The assessment of this molecule in serum and tissue can be useful at the time of diagnosis and can help us to understand the nature of colorectal pathogenesis.