Matrix metalloproteinase-9-1562C>T polymorphism may increase the risk of lymphatic metastasis of colorectal cancer

AIM: To explore the role of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) polymorphism in colorectal cancer (CRC) in a northeast Chinese population. METHODS: Genotyping of MMP-9 -1562C>T and 279R>Q polymorphisms was carried out on blood samples from 137 colorectal cancer patients and 199 controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: The distribution of MMP-9 -1562C>T and 279 R>Q genotype was not significantly associated with the risk of CRC. However, the risk of llymph node metastasis of CRC was increased in patients with the -1562T allele (OR = 2.601; 95% CI = 1.160-5.835; P = 0.022). The frequency of MMP-9 279RR + RQ genotype was higher than the QQ genotype among CRC patients younger than sixty years old (OR = 0.102; 95% CI = 0.013-0.812; P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that the MMP-9-1562C>T polymorphism affects lymph node metastasis of CRC. In addition, the MMP-9 279R allele may lead to a younger age of onset of colorectal cancer.