Current concepts on the role of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in the clinical course and prognosis of ovarian cancer
Objective of the study is to conduct a systematic analysis of the data available in current literature on the modern concepts of the role of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in the clinical course and prognosis of ovarian cancer. Materials and Methods. The overview comprises the data from foreign and Russian academic articles found in PubMed on the subject published over the past 10 years. Results. The overview analyzes the publications that focus on the study of the role of various members of matrix metalloproteinase family (MMP) and their tissue inhibitors in differential diagnosis, in prognosis of the clinical course and in the development of novel treatment strategies for ovarian cancer. It was concluded that gelatinases/collagenases of collagen IV - MMP-9 and MMP-2, matrilysine (MMP-7), as well as tissue inhibitor MMP of type 1 (TIMP-1) and membrane-associated MMP-1 (MMP-14) are the most promising markers for differential diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian cancer. Conclusion. The existing methods of inhibiting MMP activity, including the use of specific inhibitors, enable to reduce the invasiveness of ovarian cancer cells in vitro, but these methods require further research and development in order to be integrated into practice.