Collagenases (MMP-1, -8 and -13) and trypsinogen-2 in fluid from benign and malignant ovarian cysts.

Proteolytic enzymes, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tumor-associated trypsinogens (TAT), play a pivotal role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Among MMPs, the interstitial collagenases (MMP-1, -8 and -13) can initiate collagenolysis. In this study, we have studied the levels of MMP-1, -8 and -13 in relation to the level of trypsinogen-2 in fluid from benign and malignant ovarian cysts. Elevated MMP-8 levels occur in many ovarian cyst fluids, and high MMP-8 levels are associated with malignancy. The concentrations of trypsinogen-2 correlate with those of MMP-8, but it remains to be shown whether trypsin-2 plays a role as its activator in vivo. The strong expression of MMP-8 over MMP-1 and MMP-13 in malignant ovarian tumors may indicate that MMP-8 participates in the protease cascades associated with the invasiveness of ovarian tumors.