EXPRESSION OF MESSENGER RNAS FOR MEMBRANE-TYPE 1, 2, AND 3 MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES IN HUMAN RENAL CELL CARCINOMAS

AbstractPurpose: Three different membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT1, 2, and 3-MMP) that can activate proMMP-2 (progelatinase A) are thought to play an important role in invasion and metastasis by various human carcinomas. To further clarify this role, we examined mRNA expression of MT-MMPs in human renal cell carcinomas.Materials and Methods: mRNA was extracted from 25 clinical specimens of renal cell carcinoma and 23 specimens of normal renal parenchyma remote from the tumor. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using specific primers was performed, and PCR production were hybridized to32 P-labeled internal probes and analyzed by a bioimage analyzer.Results: MT1, 2, and 3-MMP mRNA expression in carcinomas was significantly higher than in normal parenchyma. In terms of the pathologic stage, MT1-MMP mRNA expression in pT2 and pT3 tumors was significantly higher than those in pT1 tumors. Although the sample size was small, it was evident that MT3-MMP mRNA expression in clear ce...