Background & objective: Activated matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) play an important role in progression of tumors by degrading the extracellular matrix and basement membrane. However, the relationship between MMP2 activity in tumor tissue and tumor progression is still unclear in bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of MMP2 in the progression of BTCC.
Methods: The contents of activated MMP9 in 20 fresh BTCC samples and 4 normal bladder mucosa tissues were determined by semi-quantitative gelatine zymography and the results were analyzed.
Results: Of 20 BTCC tissues, activated MMP2 were detected in 19 cases and the activity was increased with the tumor grade and invasiveness. The activities of the MMP2 was 8896.5+/-1655.6(mg x ml(-1))(-1) in grade I BTCC(n=11),18 355.6+/-5 307.1(mg x ml(-1))(-1) in grade II BTCC(n=5), and 26,467.1+/-4 705.6 (mg x ml(-1))(-1) in gradeIII BTCC (n=3). The activities of MMP2 was 7 843.4+/-1 515.4 (mg x ml(-1))(-1) in tumors of Tis-T1 (n=10) and 21,295.6+/-3 297.9 (mg x ml(-1))(-1) in tumors of T2-T4 (n=9). No MMP2 was detected in normal bladder mucosa tissues.
Conclusion: Activated MMP2 might play a key role in the progression of BTCC and the gelatine zymography is a useful method for the detection of activated type IV collagenase.