Alterations in regulators of the extracellular matrix in non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Bone marrow angiogenesis is increased in non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). Compounds affecting extracellular matrix (ECM) may modify angiogenesis. Here we investigated ECM regulators in 48 unselected NHL patients compared with 35 controls. Untreated patients had elevated (P < 0.05) serum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1, while MMP-2, TIMP-2 and syndecan-1 were not significantly different from controls. MMP-9 mRNA was significantly up-regulated in blood mononuclear cells, while mRNA expressions of the other ECM regulators were unaltered. We found strong correlations between mRNA expressions of both vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor 2, and MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. After therapy, serum MMP-2 increased while MMP-9 decreased (P < 0.05), the others being unchanged. Several compounds affecting ECM may be involved in angiogenic activity in NHL.