MMP-7 is a highly specific negative marker for benign and malignant mesothelial cells in serous effusions

• Published in: Human pathology Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 104 - 108
• Main Authors: Davidson, Ben, MD, PhD, Stavnes, Helene Tuft, MSc, Hellesylt, Ellen, MSc, Hager, Thomas, MD, Zeppa, Pio, MD, PhD, Pinamonti, Maurizio, MD, Wohlschlaeger, Jeremias, MD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2016; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Ascitic Fluid - enzymology; Ascitic Fluid - pathology; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Breast cancer; Carcinoma; Carcinoma - enzymology; Carcinoma - pathology; Cellular biology; Diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Effusions; Europe; Female; Gene expression; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lung Neoplasms - enzymology; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 - analysis; Medical prognosis; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma - enzymology; Mesothelioma - pathology; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Metastasis; MMP-7; Multivariate analysis; Neoplasm Grading; Ovarian cancer; Palliative care; Pathology; Pericardial Effusion - enzymology; Pericardial Effusion - pathology; Pleural Effusion, Malignant - enzymology; Pleural Effusion, Malignant - pathology; Predictive Value of Tests; Proteins; Reactive mesothelial cells; Reproducibility of Results; Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural - enzymology; Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural - pathology; Survival analysis; Tumors; Europe; Mesothelioma; Carcinoma; MMP-7; Diagnosis; Effusions; Reactive mesothelial cells
• ISSN: 0046-8177; 1532-8392
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2015.08.020

Summary The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic role of MMP-7 in effusion cytology. Effusions (n = 356), consisting of 307 carcinomas (184 ovarian, 55 breast, 32 lung, 36 carcinomas of other origin) and 49 malignant mesotheliomas, were analyzed for MMP-7 expression using immunohistochemistry. MMP-7 was expressed in 124/307 (40%) carcinomas and was uniformly absent in malignant mesotheliomas (0/49; 0%; P < .001). Reactive mesothelial cells were similarly MMP-7 negative in all carcinoma specimens. In carcinomas, expression was most frequent in tumors of ovarian and other female genital (cervical and endometrial) origin ( P < .001). The sensitivity and specificity of this marker in the differential diagnosis between high-grade serous carcinoma and malignant mesothelioma were 46% and 100%, respectively. In conclusion, MMP-7 expression is highly specific, though only of moderate sensitivity, for the diagnosis of carcinoma in the differential diagnosis from both benign and malignant mesothelial cells.