Abstract
BackgroundMatrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) promotes tumor invasion and metastasis in several cancers. However, its role in lung cancer progression is understudied. In this study, we investigated the correlation between MMP-7 expression and lung cancer pathology.MethodsWe searched the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CISCOM, CINAHL, China BioMedicine (CBM) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for scientific literature relevant to MMP-7 and lung cancer. Carefully selected studies were pooled and ORs with 95% CI were calculated. Subgroup analyses and publication bias were analyzed to understand the retrieved data in greater detail. Version 12.0 STATA software was used for statistical analysis.ResultsWe retrieved a total of 121 studies through database searches. Finally, 14 cohort studies satisfied our inclusion/exclusion criteria, and these 14 studies, published between 2004 and 2012, were selected for meta-analysis to understand the influence of MMP-7 expression in lung cancer progression. Our results showed consistent differences in MMP-7 expression when comparisons were made between TNM I-II versus III-IV (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.19 to 2.78, P = 0.006); histologic grade 1 to 2 versus 3 to 4 (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.14 to 2.42, P = 0.008); and lymph node-negative versus lymph node-positive samples (OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.73 to 4.58, P <0.001), with significantly higher MMP-7 expression levels found in the more advanced stages. Subgroup analysis showed that age was not the factor influencing the associations between histologic grade, LN metastasis and MMP-7 expression in lung cancer patients, as both under 60 and over 60 age groups showed strong correlations (all P <0.05). However, when TNM staging was analyzed for its association with MMP-7 expression, only patients under age 60 showed a statistically significant correlation.ConclusionsOur meta-analysis results revealed that MMP-7 overexpression is associated with advanced TNM and histological grades, and is linked to aggressive LN metastasis in lung cancer patients; thus MMP-7 is a useful biomarker to assess the disease status in lung cancers.
Highlights
Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) promotes tumor invasion and metastasis in several cancers
Selection criteria Published studies that were retrieved through database searches were further screened to meet the following selection criteria: (1) papers had to include lung cancer patients with different TNM stage, histologic grade, histology and lymph node (LN) metastasis status; (2) papers had to be human-associated clinical cohort studies that focused on the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-7 protein expression in the pathological features of lung cancer; (3) papers had to provide available data for MMP-7 protein expression; (4) papers had to report the adjusted odd ratios (ORs) at 95% confidence intervals (CI) for MMP-7 protein expression; and (5) papers had to report a minimum number of samples greater than 30
The 14 studies contained a total of 1,599 lung cancer patients with different TNM stages, histological grades, or LN metastasis status
Summary
Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) promotes tumor invasion and metastasis in several cancers. Lung is an urgent need to identify and evaluate the clinical value of factors relevant to lung cancer progression [10,11]. MMP-7 exhibits proteinase activities against additional targets resulting in release of growth factors such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), heparin binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) from the extracellular matrix, and in ectodomain shedding of cell-surface molecules, including Fas ligand and E-cadherin [17]. These activities of MMP-7 have important biological consequences relevant to tumor progression and metastasis. We performed a systematic metaanalysis to evaluate the link between MMP-7 protein expression and the pathological features in lung cancer
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