Serum levels of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC1) and matrix metallopeptidase-7 (MMP7) as diagnostic and prognostic markers in gastric cancer (GC) patients (pts).

Abstract

e14595 Background: MIC1 and MMP7 are secreted cytokines involved respectively in the modulation of immunological processes and in extracellular matrix remodeling. Their expression were found deregulated in different tumors, including GC. However, few data are available about their serum levels, their diagnostic potential, and their prognostic significance in GC pts. Here, we analyze the diagnostic performance of these markers and we present data linking them with short survival in GC pts. Methods: Serum samples were assayed in duplicate for MIC1 and MMP7 levels by ELISA. The diagnostic performance of markers was assessed by ROC curve analysis and the cut-offs were set using the Youden index approach. The cut-offs for prognostic purposes were determined using X-tile software. Differences in progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and logrank test. Cox regression was used to determine the prognostic independence of biomarkers. Results: From November 2006 to July 2010, 52 GC pts and 28 healthy donors were consecutively recruited. The follow-up of pts was performed until their death or the end of study (September 2011). The AUCs for MIC1 and MMP7 were respectively 0.897 and 0.865 (p < 0.001). Using the optimal cut-off to diagnose GC pts, we obtained a 73.08% of sensitivity (Ss) and a 92.86% of specificity (Sp) for MIC1, and a 78.85% of Ss and an 85.71% of Sp for MMP7. In the survival analysis, high serum levels of MIC1 and MMP7 were significantly associated with shorter PFS (p < 0.001) and OS (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). In univariate analysis, pts with high serum levels of MIC1 and MMP7 had an increased risk of progression (HR = 3.608, p<0.001 for MIC1; HR = 4.172, p<0.001 for MMP7) and death (HR = 3.843, p=0.001 for MIC1; HR = 2.602, p=0.006 for MMP7). However, MIC1 and MMP7 failed to reach prognostic independence in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: We obtained cut-off values of MIC1 and MMP7 in serum for diagnostic purposes in GC. In addition, we established a correlation between increased levels of MIC1 and MMP7 in serum and shorter PFS and OS in GC. These findings justify studies with a larger number of pts.