Elevated Serum Level of MMP-9 in Malignant Ovarian Tumor and Its Clinical Significance

Objective:To study the value of serum matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) levels in diagnosis,monitor,and prediction for metastasis of patients with malignant ovarian tumors.Methods:Serum levels of MMP-9 in 55 patients with malignant ovarian tumors,15 patients with benign ovarian tumors,and 15 healthy controls were measured by ELISA.Results:Before therapy,the serum levels of MMP-9(472.95±169.48 ng/ml) in patients with malignant ovarian tumors were significantly higher than those in patients with benign ovarian tumor(230.99±91.81 ng/ml) and healthy group(72.99±2.57 ng/ml)(P0.05).The serum levels of MMP-9 in patients after malignant tumor resection 424.11±175.66 ng/ml and patients relapse 478.13±183.90 ng/ml were also higher than those in patients with benign ovarian tumor and healthy group(P0.05).The serum levels of MMP-9 in pretherapy patients 513.82±133.18 ng/ml were higher than those in post-operative patients 437.15±144.41 ng/ml in the matched-pairs group(P0.05).Conclusions:The serum levels of MMP-9 in patients with malignant ovarian tumors are significantly elevated,which might be used to forecast the malignant change of ovaries,the response to operation of patients with malignant ovarian tumors and the recurrence.