The bioactivity of matrix metalloproteinases was studied in tissues from @entity14 @entity1 by means of both quantitative gelatin zymography and a fluorometric activity assay. Next to paired samples of @entity5 tissue and distant normal mucosa (n=73), transitional tissue was analysed from a limited (n=33) number of @entity1 . Broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase activity and both the active and latent forms of the gelatinases @entity5379 were higher in @entity5 than in normal mucosa. The ratio's between active and latent forms of @entity5379 were highest in @entity5 tissue and normal mucosa, respectively. @entity1476 levels, both active and latent forms, correlated inversely with stage of @entity5 without synchronous distant metastases containing significantly (P=0.005) more active @entity1476 than the others. At much lower levels of activity, the same trend was observed in distant normal mucosa. The level of latent form of @entity1495 in @entity5 depended on @entity5 location. Neither the active form of @entity1495 nor broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase activity in @entity5 tissue did correlate with any of the clinicopathological parameters investigated. The results demonstrate explicit differences between the activity of @entity5379 , indicating different roles for both gelatinases in @entity5 progression. Such data are necessary in order to develop rational anti- @entity5 therapies based on inhibition of specific matrix metalloproteinases.

Tissue levels of active XXXX in @entity14 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity5379 :: ('4313;4318', 'Gene') :: ['matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9'] @entity1476 :: ('4313', 'Gene') :: ['matrix metalloproteinase-2', 'Matrix metalloproteinase-2'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['disease, the tumours', 'cancer', 'tumour'] @entity14 :: ('MESH:D015179', 'Disease') :: ['colorectal cancer'] @entity1495 :: ('4318', 'Gene') :: ['matrix metalloproteinase-9']
@entity5379 :: (4313;4318,Gene) :: ['matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9']
