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Increased type IV collagen-degrading activity in metastases originating from primary tumors of the human colon.

The secretion of specific matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is considered a prerequisite step for tumor cell invasion and metastasis. In the present study we investigated the expression of type IV collagen-degrading activity in primary tumors of the human colon in correlation to tumor grade and in comparison to activity expressed in arising metastases. We observed that type IV collagen-degrading activity (MMP-2 and MMP-9), purified by ion exchange, gel filtration and affinity chromatography and characterized by gelatin zymography, correlates to tumor grade. Furthermore, in surgical specimens identified as metastases originating from primary tumors of the colon, we observed that enzyme activity was significantly enhanced, relatively to that identified in the primary tumor. This observation should be considered when targeting MMPs as a therapeutic intervention to prevent cancer progression.