Caspase‑10, matrix metalloproteinase‑9 and total laminin are correlated with the tumor malignancy of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common malignant kidney tumor, the pathogenesis of which remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether caspase-10, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and total laminin (LM) were involved into the pathogenesis of ccRCC. The levels of caspase-10, MMP-9 and total LM were analyzed by ELISA in tumor tissues and adjacent non-malignant tissues of 27 patients with ccRCC. The results revealed that caspase-10 levels in the tumor tissues were significantly higher than those in the adjacent non-malignant tissues (P<0.05). The MMP-9 levels in the tumor tissues were significantly lower than those in adjacent non-malignant tissues (P<0.01). The total LM levels in tumor tissues revealed no statistical difference with those in the adjacent non-malignant tissues (P=0.757). Additionally, caspase-10 levels were positively correlated with MMP-9 levels (P<0.001), but negatively correlated with total LM levels (P<0.05) in tumor tissues. Correlation analyses with clinical data of patients with ccRCC, revealed that caspase-10 levels (P<0.05) and MMP-9 levels (P<0.001) in tumor tissues were positively correlated with tumor grades of ccRCC, whereas total LM levels were positively correlated with tumor size (P<0.05). The results of the present study suggested that interactions between caspase-10, MMP-9 and LM are likely involved in the pathogenesis of ccRCC. A deeper understanding of the correlation between caspase-10, MMP-9 and LM would aid the clarification of pathogenesis of ccRCC.