Clinical Significance of MMP7 Levels in Colorectal Cancer Patients Receiving FOLFOX4 Chemotherapy Treatment.

Objective: Various studies have shown an association between the anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil and matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7). The expression of MMP7 in the serum of colorectal cancer patients, as well as their sensitivity to chemotherapy, were examined using the FOLFOX4 chemotherapy treatment.

Methods: Serum samples were taken from 216 colorectal cancer patients who had undergone four cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin treatment. The sera of 216 healthy persons were used as controls. MMP7 levels in the serum were measured by ELISA. Demographic and survival data were collected.

Results: MMP7 levels were not associated with sex, age, peritoneal dissemination, liver metastasis, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, or venous invasion in CRC patients, but were associated with histological grade, tumor size, TNM stage, and depth of tumor invasion. Patients' serum MMP7 expression reduced after treatment. MMP7 expression was significantly lower chemotherapy-sensitive patients compared with chemotherapy-resistant patients. Elevated MMP7 expression was associated with worse prognosis and chemotherapy-sensitive patients had markedly better overall survival compared with chemotherapy-resistant patients.

Conclusion: MMP7 expression was potentially associated with the development of colorectal cancer and elevated levels were associated with chemoresistance in CRC patients. Serum MMP7 levels can be used to screen for drug resistance during FOLFOX4 chemotherapy treatment.