Gelatinases, their tissue inhibitors and p53 in lymphomas

Abstract

<div lang="en" class="abs"><p class="abs_header">Abstract</p><p>Lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of malignancies, which usually have a good prognosis and high cure rates. Lymphomas are sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and many patients can be cured even after a relapse, resulting in a need for effective follow-up. However, the cost-benefit ratio of radiological imaging in predicting the forthcoming relapses is poor. Consequently, there is a need for biological prognostic and predictive markers to distinguish patients at the highest risk of relapse at the time of diagnosis or during follow-up. Despite rapid progress in lymphoma treatments, some patients still die from lymphoma. Thus, more data on the basic biological features of lymphomas are also needed.</p><p>Gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) have been found to play a role in the progression of solid tumours. TP53 is a tumour suppressor gene, the mutations and protein over-expression of which have been demonstrated to be associated with survival in most cancer types. There is also some evidence that these proteins could have prognostic significance in lymphomas as well. In the present study, the tissue expression, plasma concentrations and clinical value of gelatinases and their tissue inhibitors were evaluated in lymphomas. 249 primary tissue samples from patients with Hodgkin, follicular, or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were analysed for expression of gelatinases and/or their inhibitors using immunohistochemistry. In follicular lymphoma, p53 protein expression was also investigated. The plasma samples of 126 lymphoma patients and a control group of 44 healthy volunteers were collected and studied by ELISA.</p><p>TIMP-1 expression correlated with bulky tumour and nodular sclerosis subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma. In follicular lymphoma, p53 over-expression was an independent adverse prognostic factor for survival and a predictor of histological transformation. Plasma MMP-2-TIMP-2 complex appeared to be a potential follow-up marker predicting the risk of relapse in lymphoma patients. Plasma levels of the MMP-2-TIMP-2 complex, proMMP-2, TIMP-2 and proMMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio were at abnormal levels both in patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma and those in remission compared to healthy controls. The clinical significance of these markers needs further studies.</p></div>