Type‐IV collagenase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase in ovarian cancer tissues

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Abstract
Objective: We examined the specific expression of gelatinase/type‐IV collagenase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) in clinical ovarian cancer tissue. Methods: Molecular weight‐specific gelatinase/type‐IV collagenase activity was examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in which substrate was included (zymography). The expression of TIMP mRNA was examined by Northern blot analysis. Results: Zymography revealed that in ovarian cancer the activity of a 92‐kDa gelatinase/type‐IV collagenase was always greater than that of a 64‐kDa gelatinase/type‐IV collagenase in contrast to the situation in the normal ovary. Northern blot analysis revealed no remarkable difference of TIMP mRNA expression between cancer and normal ovarian tissues. Conclusions: These results indicate that the higher activity of the 92‐kDa gelatinase/type‐IV collagenase enzyme, relative to that of the 64‐kDa enzyme, is involved in the malignant phenotype of ovarian cancer, while the inhibitor of these enzymes, TIMP, is distributed in a widespread fashion in the tissue, and its levels are not correlated with the malignancy.