Intratumoral concentrations of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in patients with gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND Previously, the authors clarified that the plasma concentration of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in patients with gastric carcinoma was a significant predictor of tumor invasiveness and metastasis. METHODS To further clarify the clinical significance of TIMP-1, the authors used an enzyme-linked immunoassay to assess TIMP-1 protein concentrations in samples of tumor tissue from 86 patients who underwent primary resection for gastric carcinoma. Concentrations in samples of normal gastric mucosa from 73 of these patients also were assessed. RESULTS Tissue TIMP-1 concentrations were significantly greater in gastric tumors than in normal gastric mucosa and were associated significantly with a variety of pathologic factors, including macroscopic type, depth of tumor invasion in the gastric wall, presence of lymphatic vessel invasion, pattern of tumor infiltration into the surrounding tissue, and disease stage. Significantly greater TIMP-1 concentrations were found in tumors that were exposed to the serosal surface compared with tumors that were limited to the submucosal layer. TIMP-1 protein was significantly greater in tumors with lymphatic vessel invasion, an infiltrative pattern into the surrounding tissue (INF-γ), and in tumors from patients with Stage III disease. Survival was significantly poorer in patients with TIMP-1 concentrations ≧ 10.0 ng/mg total protein. When patients were stratified by disease stage, survival was significantly different in patients with Stage III disease. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that intratumoral concentrations of TIMP-1 were the most significant independent factor for survival. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the intratumoral concentration of TIMP-1 protein may be a good indicator of tumor aggressiveness and can serve as a significant independent predictor of survival in patients with gastric carcinoma. Cancer 2001;91:1739–44. © 2001 American Cancer Society.