The utility of metalloprotienase 9 (MMP-9) in diagnostics of ovarian cancer

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is characterized by increasing morbidity and high mortality, which translates into the necessity of searching and implementing new methods enabling early detection and effective treatment of this cancer. Such methods may include the determination of tumour markers, such as extracellular matrix metalloproteinases. In the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is of particular interest. MMP-9 is important in the process of carcinogenesis through its involvement in, among other things, tumour cell migration and invasion, metastasis formation, and angiogenesis. Preliminary results showed that tissue expression and serum levels of MMP-9 increase in patients with ovarian cancer, further correlating with stage and presence of metastases. However, more studies are needed to assess the usefulness of MMP-9, but the results already obtained show that it can be a useful parameter also in a combined analysis with markers standardly determined in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, i.e. CA 125 and HE-4. The aim of this study is to present, based on literature data, the potential usefulness of MMP-9 in the diagnosis and monitoring of ovarian cancer.