Original article
English
Bendardaf R, Lamlum H, Vihinen P, Ristamaki R, Laine J, Pyrhonen S.
Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland. riyben@utu.fi
Oncology. 2003;65(4):337-46.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Extracellular matrix degradation is required for invasive growth and metastasis formation in colorectal carcinoma; therefore, we examined matrix metalloproteinases expression (MMP-1, MMP-13 and MT1-MMP) and apoptosis in tumours from 49 patients with advanced colorectal disease. METHODS: MMP expression was determined immunohistochemically and apoptotic index (AI) was ascertained using the TUNEL assay. RESULTS: Low levels of MT1-MMP, MMP-1 and AI were found to be favourable markers significantly associated with longer survival. MT1-MMP expression levels below the median (