Background and objective: Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7), also known as matrilysin, is a member of the MMP family. The objectives of this study were to test MMP-7 protein levels in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients and healthy control subjects and to determine their corresponding clinical significance.
Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 114 lung cancer patients and 100 healthy control subjects. MMP-7 protein levels in the plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: The plasma protein levels of MMP-7 in lung cancer patients (median=0.72 ng/mL) were significantly higher than those in healthy control subjects (median=0.30 ng/mL)(P<0.001). When the cutoff of MMP-7 protein level was set at 0.56 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity of detecting lung cancer were 62.3% and 76.0%, respectively. However, the lung cancer patients and healthy control subjects did not statistically differ in age, sex, smoking status, tumor size, pathological classification, as well as lymphatic metastasis and stage (P>0.05).
Conclusions: The plasma protein levels of MMP-7 increase in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients. Peripheral blood MMP-7 can be used as a tumor marker for detecting lung cancer. The fact that no significant correlation between the protein levels of MMP-7 and lung cancer clinical parameters was observed in this study warrants further analysis in larger samples.
背景与目的: 基质金属蛋白酶7（matrix metalloproteinase 7, MMP-7）又称基质溶解素，是MMPs家族成员之一，本研究旨在检测MMP-7在肺癌患者和正常人外周血血浆中的蛋白水平，并探讨其临床意义。
方法: 采用酶联接免疫吸附试验（enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay, ELISA）检测114例肺癌患者和100名正常人外周血血浆标本中的MMP-7浓度。
结果: 肺癌患者外周血血浆中的MMP-7蛋白浓度（n=114, median=0.72 ng/mL）明显高于正常人外周血血浆中的MMP-7蛋白浓度（n=100, median=0.30 ng/mL, P < 0.001），当cutoff值为0.56 ng/mL时，MMP-7检测肺癌的敏感性为62.3%，特异性为76.0%。但是，肺癌患者外周血血浆中MMP-7的蛋白水平与患者的年龄、性别、吸烟史、肿瘤大小、病理类型、淋巴结转移及分期均无关（P > 0.05）。
结论: 外周血血浆中MMP-7可以作为辅助肺癌诊断的一种肿瘤标志物，但其与肺癌的各项临床参数之间无明显联系，需要进一步扩大样本进行分析。