Comparative analysis of the expression of metalloproteases (MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-11 and MMP-13) and the tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease 3 (TIMP-3) between previous negative biopsies and radical prostatectomies.

Metalloproteases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-3 (TIMP-3) have been associated to the risk of having cancer and tumor aggressiveness. When facing the difficulties of prostate cancer diagnosis, the expression of MMPs and TIMP-3 in negative biopsies could be helpful to evaluate a diagnostic suspicion. Our objective is to carry out a comparative study of the expression of MMPs and TIMP-3 in previous negative biopsies and radical prostatectomies (RP).

Retrospective analysis of a hospital-based cohort including 21 patients with suspicion of prostate carcinoma, whose expressions of MMP-2, 9, 11 and 13 and TIMP-3 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in the tumor area from previous negative biopsies and RP.

Immunohistochemical staining values (Score) for MMPs (-11 and -13) and TIMP-3 showed no significant differences when comparing the areas of negative biopsies where tumors subsequently developed with those of the RP. However, we did observe a significant difference in the increased expression of MMP-2 (P=.002) and MMP-9 (P=.001) in the tumor area of the RP with respect to the corresponding area of the previous negative biopsy.

Our data indicate a higher overall expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the tumor area of the RP compared to the corresponding areas of the negative previous biopsy, which seems to be associated to the process of malignant transformation.

Actas urologicas espanolas. 2019 Dec 30 [Epub ahead of print]

A Medina-González, N Eiró-Díaz, J M Fernández-Gómez, L Ovidio-González, A Jalón-Monzón, J Casas-Nebra, S Escaf-Barmadah

Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de Valme, Sevilla, España. Electronic address: ., Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Fundación de Jove, Gijón, España., Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España., Servicio de Urología, Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, España.