Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Biochemistry

Purposes: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a recently recognized protein that binds to Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9).There is growing evidence implicating that Neutrophil gelatinase{u2013}associated lipocalin and Matrix metalloproteinase-9 play a role in the development and progression of cancers. In this study, we investigated the role of NGAL and MMP-9 in the tumorigenesis and progression of Colorectal Cancer (CRC).We showed the correlation between the plasma levels of NGAL and MMP-9 in CRC, and also we studied the effect of treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy on plasma levels of NGAL and MMP-9 in human CRC. Methods: We used ELISA immunoassay to measure the levels of plasma NGAL and MMP-9 in a cohort consisting of colorectal cancer patients (n=50) and controls (n=30). Cases were assigned into 5 groups: Group 1(Control),Group 2 (Patients with early stages (I,II), who weren{u2019}t receive chemotherapy and /or radiotherapy), Group 3 (Patients with early stages (I,II), who were received chemotherapy and/ or radiotherapy, Group 4 (Patients with late stages (III, IV), who weren't receive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) and Group 5(Patients with late stages (III, IV), who were received chemotherapy and/ or radiotherapy).Results: Both NGAL and MMP-9 plasma levels were highly significantly elevated in all studied groups compared to control group (P<0.0001) but no significant differences in plasma levels of NGAL and MMP-9 were found between groups that received treatment with chemotherapy and /or radiotherapy and those not received, or between different stages (Tumor Nodes Metastases staging (TNM)) of CRC. In addition we found significant correlation between levels of NGAL and levels of MMP-9(P = 0.044). NGAL was positively correlated with MMP-9 (The correlation coefficient between NGAL and MMP-9 was 0.286).Conclusion: Our study suggested that NGAL and MMP-9 may be have screening role but not for prognosis of CRC Patients and they have no value in monitoring the effect of treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy on CRC patients

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