News Release

Expression of gelatinases in gastric cancer and superficial gastritis

Peer-Reviewed Publication

World Journal of Gastroenterology

Gastric cancer in Mexico is the most frequent gastrointestinal malignant neoplasm. Several precursor conditions, such as chronic gastritis, have been associated with the development of gastric cancer. The gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, members of the metalloproteinase family, are fundamental enzymes in extracellular matrix remodelling. The extracellular matrix is composed of secreted molecules outside cells which provides structural support and regulates cell behaviour.

The matrix metalloproteinase family is a group of 24 enzymes in humans that degrade components of extracellular matrix. The gelatinases comprise MMP-2 (gelatinase A) and MMP-9 (gelatinase B), both of which cleave several components of the extracellular matrix.

A research article to be published on March 28, 2010 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. The authors reported that MMP9 expression is enhanced in gastric cancer compared to normal gastric mucosa; also they found no differences in MMP2 and MMP9 expression between superficial gastritis and normal tissue. This is important because gene expression profiles allow characterization of differentially expressed genes and those are considered key determinants of cellular behavior. Knowledge about differences in gene expression profiles between normal gastric mucosa, precursor conditions and malignant tissue, is central to elucidating regulatory pathways involved in cancer development and progression. Future research efforts of this team are directed to profiling all members of the matrix metalloproteinases family in larger groups of Mexican patients with gastritis and gastric cancer.

###

Reference: Sampieri CL, de la Peña S, Ochoa-Lara M, Zenteno-Cuevas R, León-Córdoba K. Expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in human gastric cancer and superficial gastritis. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16(12): 1500-1505 http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v16/i12/1500.htm

Correspondence to: Dr. Clara Luz Sampieri, Institute of Public Health, Veracruzana University, Av. Luis Castelazo Ayala S/N, Xalapa, Veracruz, CP 91190, Mexico. csampieri@uv.mx Telephone: +52-228-8418900 Fax: +52-228-8418935

About World Journal of Gastroenterology

World Journal of Gastroenterology (WJG), a leading international journal in gastroenterology and hepatology, has established a reputation for publishing first class research on esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, viral hepatitis, colorectal cancer, and H pylori infection and provides a forum for both clinicians and scientists. WJG has been indexed and abstracted in Current Contents/Clinical Medicine, Science Citation Index Expanded (also known as SciSearch) and Journal Citation Reports/Science Edition, Index Medicus, MEDLINE and PubMed, Chemical Abstracts, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, Abstracts Journals, Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology and Hepatology, CAB Abstracts and Global Health. ISI JCR 2008 IF: 2.081. WJG is a weekly journal published by WJG Press. The publication dates are the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day of every month. WJG is supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30224801 and No. 30424812, and was founded with the name of China National Journal of New Gastroenterology on October 1, 1995, and renamed WJG on January 25, 1998.

About The WJG Press

The WJG Press mainly publishes World Journal of Gastroenterology.


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.