Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 as an Independent Prognostic Biomarker in Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma
This study aimed to investigate whether matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression serves as a poor prognostic factor in patients with ovarian cancer. A total of 74 patients who underwent surgery for ovarian cancer at Tottori University Hospital between 2017 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative serum MMP-1 levels were measured using a sandwich ELISA, and tumor tissue expression of MMP-1 was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Associations between MMP-1 levels and clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), were assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Elevated serum MMP-1 concentration was identified as an independent poor prognostic factor for overall survival (OS). However, MMP-1 expression in tumor tissue was not an independent prognostic factor for either OS or progression-free survival (PFS). Preoperative serum MMP-1 levels showed a positive correlation with Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125), indicating that the combination of these markers may be useful for predicting prognosis. Serum MMP-1 concentration may serve as a poor prognostic biomarker in ovarian cancer. Its use alongside CA125 could enhance prognostic assessment.