Serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 level associated with stromal reaction in patients with gastric cancer

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) plays an important role in cancer invasion and metastasis. The relationship between serum MMP-9 levels and clinicopathological factors in gastric cancer patients is not clear. Materials and Methods: Preoperative serum was obtained from 170 patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer at the Veterans General Hospital-Taipei The serum MMP-9 level was measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay by monoclonal antibodies. Results: The median serum MMP-9 level was 368.6 ng/mL (range: 43.9-1871.3 ng/mL). Univariate analysis showed that stromal reaction and Lauren's histological classification were two factors related to serum MMP-9 levels (p = 0.014 and p = 0.030 respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that stromal reaction was the only factor independently (odds ratio: 1.695) associated with MMP-9 levels. Patients with a serum MMP-9 level < 368.5 ng/mL had a tendency towards better survival rate (5-year survival rate: 64.4%) than those with > 368.5 ng/mL (58.5%), but this tendency did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.512). Conclusion: These data suggests that serum MMP-9 levels are associated with stromal reaction in gastric cancer.