Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and -9 (MMP-9) play an important role in cancer initiation, invasion, and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether common genetic variants in these two key MMPs are associated with the development and progression of colorectal cancer in a Chinese population. We detected the MMP-2-790T/G, -955A/C, -1575G/A, and MMP-9-1562 C/T polymorphisms in 126 colorectal cancer patients and matched normal controls by PCR-denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) or PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), respectively. We found that the G/G genotype in the MMP-2-1575G/A polymorphism was significantly increased in colorectal cancer patients than in the controls (odds ratio (OR), 1.96; 95% CI, 1.06-3.64). Colorectal cancers with G/G genotype were more common with serosa/adventitia layer involvement than those with G/A+A/A genotypes (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in distribution of the MMP-2-790T/G, -955A/C, and MMP-9-1562 C/T polymorphisms or haplotype of MMP-2 SNPs between patients and controls. Our results suggest that the presence of -1575G allele in the MMP-2 promoter region may be of significance in the assessment of colorectal cancer risk and invasive potential.
Copyright (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.