Metalloproteinases at the surface of small extrcellular vesicles in advanced ovarian cancer: Relationships with ascites volume and peritoneal canceromatosis index.

Metalloproteinases and their extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) play an essential role in the regulation of signaling from growth factors receptors and adhesion molecules, cell motility and extracellular matrix degradation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the levels of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) metalloproteinases, such as ADAM10, ADAM17, MMP2, MMP9 and EMMPRIN and ascites volume and peritoneal canceromatosis index in advanced ovarian cancer patients (OCPs). The subpopulations of metalloproteinases at the surface of sEVs of borderline ovarian tumor patients (BOTPs) (n = 20, 36.5 ± 2.5 years) and previously untreated advanced OCPs (n = 35, 56.5 ± 2.5 years) were evaluated using flow cytometry. The metalloproteinase subpopulations of CD9-positive sEVs isolated from plasma of BOTPs and OCPs appeared to be quite similar. However, a significant difference in the expression of ADAM-metalloproteinases in ascites sEVs was found between BOTPs and OCPs. The level of sEVs metalloproteinases in OCPs significantly depended on the ascites volume. A statistically significant relationship between the level of ADAM10+/ADAM17- subpopulation in plasma sEVs and the peritoneal canceromatosis index was found (R = 0.66, p < .05). The levels of metalloproteinases and EMMPRIN in circulating sEVs, as well as the assessment of individual subpopulations may be promising approaches to OCPs managing.