Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression in Surface Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma and its Association with Clinicopathological Parameters: A Cross-sectional Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynaecological malignancies worldwide, largely due to its latestage diagnosis and high metastatic potential. The tumour microenvironment plays a crucial role in disease progression, with Extracellular Matrix (ECM) remodelling being a key process in tumour invasion and metastasis. Among the mediators of ECM degradation, Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has garnered significant attention due to its ability to degrade type IV collagen, a major component of the basement membrane. MMP-9, a member of the gelatinase subfamily of MMP, is involved in multiple oncogenic processes, including tumour growth, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. Overexpression of MMP-9 has been observed in various malignancies, including ovarian cancer, where it is associated with poor prognosis, increased tumour aggressiveness, and resistance to therapy. Aim: To analyse the expression of MMP-9 and its association with different clinicopathological parameters in surface epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Materials and Methods: This observational, cross-sectional descriptive study included 80 cases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma diagnosed at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Tumour samples were collected and processed for histopathological examination, followed by immunohistochemical analysis to assess MMP-9 expression. Clinicopathological parameters, including histological type, grade, and stage, were recorded. The intensity of MMP-9 expression was categorised into two groups—high and low expression—based on a predetermined scoring system. The association between MMP-9 expression and various clinicopathological features (such as tumour laterality, histological type, tumour grade, tumour stage, and presence of malignant cells in ascitic fluid) was analysed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, Version 10.0, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Descriptive statistics were calculated in terms of frequency and percentages for the qualitative variables. Clinical features were evaluated by descriptive analysis; mean and median values were calculated. Differences between variables were assessed using the chi-square (χ2 ) test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 80 samples analysed, high epithelial MMP-9 expression (moderate or strong) was observed in 63 (78.75%) cases, while 17 (21.25%) showed negative or weak expression. Stromal MMP-9 expression was detected in 76 (95.00%) out of 80 specimens, with 48 (60.00%) tumours demonstrating high stromal MMP-9 levels. High stromal MMP-9 expression was significantly associated with advanced stage (p-value=0.001), high grade (p-value=0.01), and serous histology (p-value=0.026). However, epithelial MMP-9 expression showed no statistically significant association with any clinicopathological parameters. Conclusion: High stromal MMP-9 expression is associated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. Down-regulation of MMP-9 may be an important therapeutic strategy to reduce cancer-related mortality.
Authors: Shailaja Kumari, Rathin Hazra, Rajib Kumar Mondal, Anuradha Phadikar, Animesh Hazra, Sarbari Kar Rakshit
Language: English
Subfield: Cancer Research
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $275
OpenAlex ID: W7114910937
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