Matrix metalloproteinase-7 may serve as a novel biomarker for cervical cancer

Abstract

BackgroundThe biological and clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in cervical cancer remains unknown. Here, we investigated the function of MMP-7 in cervical cancer cells and evaluated its clinical significance in both tissues and serum from cervical cancer patients.MethodsFirst, we analyzed the expression of MMP-7 in cervical cancer using Oncomine microarray data and examined its expression in cervical tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Second, we utilized gene silencing to explore the role of MMP-7 in cells. Finally, we examined the MMP-7 levels in patients with cervical cancer and normal serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, we further investigated the relationship between MMP-7 expression and pathological features.ResultsThe mRNA and protein MMP-7 levels were higher in cervical cancer tissues than in healthy controls. Silencing of MMP-7 significantly decreased cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The serum MMP-7 levels were significantly higher in cervical cancer patients than in healthy subjects (P<0.01). Further, higher MMP-7 expression was associated with increased lymph metastasis (P=0.021), pathological grade (P=0.039, P=0.047), and clinical stage (P=0.049, P=0.046).ConclusionMMP-7 appears to act as an oncogene in cervical cancer cells and is involved in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. MMP-7 expression was significantly higher in the tissue and serum of cervical cancer patients compared to healthy individuals and was correlated with increased pathalogical grade, clinical stage, and lymph metastasis. Therefore, our data provide novel evidence that MMP-7 may be a clinically relevant biomarker for cervical cancer.

Bioinformatics and Molecular Insights to Anti-Metastasis Activity of Triethylene Glycol Derivatives

“…MMP-7 was shown to promote the proliferation of mouse-derived tongue squamous cell carcinoma [ 27 ]. MMP-7 was found to be directly involved in cell survival, proliferation, migration and invasion of the cervical cancer cells, and its expression was suggested as a novel prognostic biomarker [ 28 ]. MMP-9 was shown to cleave heparan sulfate and secrete VEGF essential for the angiogenesis and progression of colorectal cancer [ 29 ].…”

Approaches Toward Targeting Matrix Metalloproteases for Prognosis and Therapies in Gynecological Cancer: MicroRNAs as a Molecular Driver

“…MMP-1 is found in stromal and epithelial cancer cells of invasive carcinomas and regulates cervical tumorigenesis and lymph node metastasis via the PPAR signaling pathway ( 42 , 43 ). MMP-7 is implicated in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, possibly through the wnt/catenin pathway ( 44 , 45 ). Activation of the PKC pathway led to an increase in MMP-7 and 10 in cancer cells, indicating their involvement in cell proliferation and migration in OC ( 46 ).…”

Matrix metalloproteinase-induced cervical extracellular matrix remodelling in pregnancy and cervical cancer

“…MMPs regulate ECM turnover and facilitate cancer occurrence, invasion and metastasis ( Libra et al 2009 , Zhu et al 2018 ). Overexpression of MMPs indicates poor prognosis for cervical cancer ( Chen et al 2021 ).…”