New Strategy For Hepatocellular Carcinoma - For Clinical Application Of Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitor

In the most of the cases, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops in the setting of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. In this study, Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which closely relate to tissue remodeling was examined in consideration of angiogenesis, referring to the process of HCC from tissue remodeling to carcinogenesis, proliferation and progression. In this study, we used rat HCC model. As for MMP-2 and MMP-9, the presence of their activated types at the site of tumor was revealed to be important. In addition, the chemopreventive effect together with suppressed tumor growth or tumor shrinkage was observed following administration of Marimastat being a MMP inhibitor (MMPI). These results suggest that MMPI could be adequately applied in the clinical filed for the treatment and controlled of HCC.