Published online May 27, 2023. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v15.i5.931
Peer-review started: March 13, 2023
First decision: March 28, 2023
Revised: March 29, 2023
Accepted: April 7, 2023
Article in press: April 7, 2023
Published online: May 27, 2023
A noninvasive biomarker with high diagnostic performance is urgently needed for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC).
To evaluate the diagnostic value of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2, 7 and 9 in urine for CRC.
Of 59 healthy controls, 47 patients with colon polyps and 82 patients with CRC were included in this study. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in serum and MMP2, MMP7, and MMP9 in urine were detected. The combined diagnostic model of the indicators was established by binary logistic regression. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of the subjects was used to evaluate the independent and combined diagnostic value of the indicators.
The MMP2, MMP7, MMP9, and CEA levels in the CRC group differed significantly from levels in the healthy controls (P < 0.05). The levels of MMP7, MMP9, and CEA also differed significantly between the CRC group and the colon polyps group (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) distinguishing between the healthy control and the CRC patients using the joint model with CEA, MMP2, MMP7 and MMP9 was 0.977, and the sensitivity and specificity were 95.10% and 91.50%, respectively. For early-stage CRC, the AUC was 0.975, and the sensitivity and specificity were 94.30% and 98.30%, respectively. For advanced stage CRC, the AUC was 0.979, and the sensitivity and specificity were 95.70% and 91.50%, respectively. Using CEA, MMP7 and MMP9 to jointly established a model distinguishing the colorectal polyp group from the CRC group, the AUC was 0.849, and the sensitivity and specificity were 84.10% and 70.20%, respectively. For early-stage CRC, the AUC was 0.818, and the sensitivity and specificity were 76.30% and 72.30%, respectively. For advanced stage CRC, the AUC was 0.875, and the sensitivity and specificity were 81.80% and 72.30%, respectively.
MMP2, MMP7 and MMP 9 may exhibit diagnostic value for the early detection of CRC and may serve as auxiliary diagnostic markers for CRC.
Core Tip: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers. Early diagnosis and early treatment have become the consensus of CRC diagnosis and treatment. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), as a group of zinc-dependent endopeptidases, participate in the degradation of the extracellular matrix and are secreted and activated outside the cell. We aimed to evaluate the MMP2, MMP7 and MMP9 diagnostic value for early detection of CRC.