Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-1 as a Biological Marker in Colorectal Cancer: Influence of Smoking on Plasma Levels?

Abstract

At present plasma tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) is undergoing validation as a biological marker in colorectal cancer (CRC). The clinical implementation of plasma TIMP-1 in prognosis, prediction, screening and monitoring CRC requires robust information as to the influence of preanalytical factors, including inter- and intrapersonal biological variations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible effects of smoking on the level of TIMP-1 in plasma from healthy subjects. Forty-six never-smokers and 48 daily smokers participated in the 13-week study. Smokers were randomized into 3 groups of 16 subjects each: one group continued to smoke, a second group refrained from smoking and used a transdermal nicotine patch, and a third group refrained from smoking and used placebo patches. Plasma TIMP-1 levels were determined using ELISA. No significant differences in TIMP-1 levels could be shown between the smoking group, the 2 different abstinent smoking groups and the never-smoking group. Smoking does not appear to have any influence on TIMP-1 levels in plasma collected from healthy subjects.