Mmp-2 and Mmp-9 Protein Determination in Cervical Cancer Samples

Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these cells to invade other tissues, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis. Metastasis is defined as the stage in which cancer cells are transported through the blood stream or lymphatic system, where they continue to proliferate and give rise to secondary tumours’. Cervical cancer is a malignancy of the cervix. About 80% to 90% of cervical cancer and squamous cell carcinomas, which are composed of cells that resemble the flat, thin cells called squamous cells that cover the surface of the endocervix. The remaining 10% to 20% of cervical cancer are adenocarcinomas. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) secreted by cervical and ovarian cancer, especially MMP-2 and MMP-9, play crucial roles in tumor invasion and metastasis. The protein concentrations were found to be 1.84 and 2.48 for normal sample and diseased sample respectively. The molecular weight of MMP-2 and MMP-9 of cancer subjects were determined as 62 KDa and 78 KDa approximately and in normal subjects as 52 KDa and 72 KDa by using SDS-PAGE.