A Study of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Interleukin-18 in Preinvasive and Invasive Lesions of Cancer Cervix.

INTRODUCTION

Human Papilloma-Virus infection is the major event for cervical carcinogenesis, whereas host physiological changes may confer individual susceptibility and prognosis. So here, we aimed to compare serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) between cervical cancer patients and healthy controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, we enrolled 168 subjects (10 CIN I, 10 CIN II, 10 CIN III, and 54 invasive cervical cancers with 84 age-matched healthy controls). Serum levels were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The levels of serum MMP-2 showed a characteristic pattern of increasing trend with statistically significant value on comparing pre-invasive lesions and cervical cancer versus healthy controls. However, IL-18 levels showed a decreasing trend in serum levels of controls versus cases with a statistically significant value ( < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

MMP-2 accentuates tissue damage and controls many interleukins secretion, which leads invasion and malignancy. Increased levels of MMP-2 and decreased circulating levels of IL-18 were found in cases. Hence, we raise an issue to study MMP-2 and IL-18 further for their diagnostic and prognostic marker role.