The role of the activated form of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in urothelialcancer

Objective To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP- 2, reportedly associated with cancer cell invasion and metastasis in many h uman cancers) in urothelial tumours and thus define its role in this diseas e. Materials and methods The expression of both the activated form of MMP-2 an d total MMP-2 (activated + latent form) was measured using gelatine zymogra phy in tissue obtained surgically from 61 patients with urothelial cancer. The correlation between the level of the activated form of MMP-2 and clinic al and histological variables was assessed. Results The expression of activated and total MMP-2 were significantly high er in invasive tumour tissue and both levels were correlated with histologi cal grade. In particular, the level of activated MMP-2 was more closely cor related than that of total MMP-2 in invasive tumour tissue. Moreover, high levels of activated MMP-2 were strongly associated with shorter disease-spe cific survival (P = 0.0016). Conclusion These findings suggest that activated MMP-2 plays a significant role in invasion of urothelial cancer and that the level of activated MMP-2 expression is a useful prognostic indicator.