Editorial
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jun 15, 2011; 3(6): 79-98
Published online Jun 15, 2011. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v3.i6.79
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in gastrointestinal cancer
Alexandra MJ Langers, Hein W Verspaget, Daniel W Hommes, Cornelis FM Sier
Alexandra MJ Langers, Hein W Verspaget, Daniel W Hommes, Cornelis FM Sier, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
Author contributions: Langers AMJ and Sier CFM performed the research, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript; Sier CFM, Verspaget HW and Hommes DW carefully revised and complemented the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Alexandra MJ Langers, MD, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, C4-P, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. a.m.j.langers@lumc.nl
Telephone: +31-71-5261846 Fax: +31-71-5248115
Received: February 14, 2011
Revised: May 27, 2011
Accepted: June 3, 2011
Published online: June 15, 2011
Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in cancer development and progression and are associated with prognosis. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MMPs, most frequently located in the promoter region of the genes, have been shown to influence cancer susceptibility and/or progression. SNPs of MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, -8, -9, -12, -13 and -21 and of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 have been studied in digestive tract tumors. The contribution of these polymorphisms to the cancer risk and prognosis of gastrointestinal tumors are reviewed in this paper.

Keywords: Matrix metalloproteinase; Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase; Single nucleotide polymorphism; Promoter region; Digestive tract; cancer