Elevated serum MMP-1 associated with advanced disease stage and lymph node metastasis in patients with pancreatic carcinoma

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a malignancy with extremely poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the application value of tumour markers and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) in predicting clinical staging and lymph node metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Totally, 130 pancreatic cancer patients and 40 healthy controls admitted to Haian Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University from January 2018 to January 2022 were collected. The expression of MMP-1, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199), and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) were detected in their serum. MMP-1 was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissue, and MMP-1, CA199, CA125, and CEA could serve as diagnostic markers for pancreatic cancer. MMP-1 and CA199 had higher diagnostic value for early pancreatic cancer. Additionally, MMP-1 also demonstrated high predictive value for lymph node metastasis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified TNM staging, differentiation, MMP-1, and CA199 as independent risk factors affecting the overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients. The risk score model constructed based on Cox regression coefficients could better predict the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. MMP-1 demonstrates promising application value in determining clinical staging and lymph node metastasis of pancreatic cancer.

Keywords: CA125; CA199; CEA; MMP-1; pancreatic carcinoma; risk model.

Figure 1

The flow chart.

Figure 2

Expression level of MMP-1 in pancreatic carcinoma related database. A-C. Expression level of MMP-1 in GSE28735, GSE62452 and GSE71729 datasets. D. Expression level of MMP-1 in pancreatic carcinoma samples from TCGA database. Note: MMP-1: matrix metalloproteinase-1; TCGA: The Cancer Genome Atlas Program.

Figure 3

Difference in MMP-1 and tumour markers between healthy subjects and patients with pancreatic carcinoma. A-D. Differences in MMP-1, CA199, CA125 and CEA between healthy subjects and patients with pancreatic carcinoma. E. AUCs of MMP-1, CA199, CA125 and CEA in distinguishing healthy subjects from patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Note: MMP-1: matrix metalloproteinase-1; CA199: serum cancer antigen 19-9; CA125: cancer antigen 125; CEA: carcinoembryonic antigen; AUC: area under the curve; ****P<0.0001.

Figure 4

Diagnostic value of MMP-1, CA199, CA125 and CEA in TNM staging, lymph node metastasis and perineural invasion. A. Value of MMP-1 and tumour markers in differentiating TNM stages. B. Value of MMP-1 and tumour markers in differentiating lymph node metastasis. C. Value of MMP-1 and tumour markers in differentiating perineural invasion. Note: MMP-1: matrix metalloproteinase-1; CA199: serum cancer antigen 19-9; CA125: cancer antigen 125; CEA: carcinoembryonic antigen; ROC: receiver operating characteristic curve.

Figure 5

Value of risk model in predicting the OS of patients. A. Level of risk score for patients with pancreatic carcinoma in death and survival groups. B. ROC curve of risk score in predicting death of patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Note: **** P<0.0001; ROC: receiver operating characteristic curve.