Pancreatic cancer (PC) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) are still significant problems. The aim of this study was a comparative analysis of the activity and concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and the concentrations of their tissue inhibitors (TIMP 1 and 2) in the PC compared to CP tissue homogenates. The study was performed in a group of 63 patients with pancreatic cancer or chronic pancreatitis selected for resection procedures. Group 1 consisted of 31 patients with CP, group 2 consisted of 32 patients with PC. There was no coincidence of pancreatic cancer in CP group. The pancreatic tumor samples have been properly prepared in order to perform electrophoresis and immunoassay testing. The activity of MMPs and the concentrations of MMPs and TIMPs were evaluated.
Results: the revealed activities of gelatinases and concentrations levels of the gelatinases and their inhibitors were significantly higher in the PC tissue samples compared to CP. In both groups, higher concentrations of MMP9 compared to MMP2 and TIMP2 compared to TIMP1 were shown. High potential for tumor invasiveness demonstrated by the formation of lymph node metastases was characterized by the higher concentrations of MMP9 and TIMP2. However, in the case of infiltration of the nerve fibers, a decrease in the concentration of MMP2 was found.
Conclusions: gelatinases and their inhibitors play important role in the pathogenesis of the CP as well as PC. The activity and concentration of gelatinases and the concentration of their inhibitors were all significantly higher in the PC group.