The content of matrix metalloproteinases in bladder cancer tumors

Abstract

Bladder cancer (BC) is the 9th in frequency oncologic disease, with the highest number of patients in developed countries. The disease is more commonly diagnosed in men – about 75%. The ability to invade surrounding tissues and metastasis to individual organs is one of the fundamental properties of malignant tumors. According to modern ideas about mechanisms of metastasis, basement membranes and extracellular matrix are the main barriers, and tissue structures are needed to overcome the invasive growth of tumor cells. Almost all of the extracellular matrix components can be destroyed by the use of metal-matrix proteinases (MMP), moreover, the precursors of growth factors and adhesion molecules on the cell surface may be the MMP substrates. MMPs also participate in epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, which provides metastasis. Previous studies by other authors point to an increase in the biosynthesis of various MMPs in the outbreak of tumors and in metastases, such changes associated with the degree of differentiation of the tumor, the depth of the invasion, as well as their association with poor further prognosis and low survival rates in patients with various cancers. The purpose of our work was to investigate the content of MMP-1, 2, 3, 8 and TIMP-1 in the tumors and walls of the healthy bladder in patients with BC, depending on the stage of TNM classification. We investigated the increase in the content of MMP-1, 2, 3, 8 and TIMP-1 in samples of healthy bladder walls for stage 3 and 4 of the BC, indicating the participation of the investigated parameters in the growth and invasion of bladder tumors. The results of our study are consistent with the results of previous studies conducted in the study of other neoplasms, which indicate the relationship between the studied parameters with the development of cancer.