A Study of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Interleukin-18 in Preinvasive and Invasive Lesions of Cancer Cervix

INTRODUCTION: Human Papilloma-Virus infection is the major event for cervical carcinogenesis, whereas host physiological changes may confer individual susceptibility and prognosis. So here, we aimed to compare serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) between cervical cancer patients and healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, we enrolled 168 subjects (10 CIN I, 10 CIN II, 10 CIN III, and 54 invasive cervical cancers with 84 age-matched healthy controls). Serum levels were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The levels of serum MMP-2 showed a characteristic pattern of increasing trend with statistically significant P value on comparing pre-invasive lesions and cervical cancer versus healthy controls. However, IL-18 levels showed a decreasing trend in serum levels of controls versus cases with a statistically significant P value (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: MMP-2 accentuates tissue damage and controls many interleukins secretion, which leads invasion and malignancy. Increased levels of MMP-2 and decreased circulating levels of IL-18 were found in cases. Hence, we raise an issue to study MMP-2 and IL-18 further for their diagnostic and prognostic marker role.