Polymorphisms in MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in Turkish patients with prostate cancer

Aim: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the Western male population. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) modulate the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The imbalance between MMPs and TIMPs may lead to an emergence of pathological processes such as cancer. In this study, the association between TIMP-2 (–418 G/C) and MMP-2 (–1306 C/T) polymorphisms and prostate cancer in the Turkish population was investigated. Materials and methods: Sixty-one prostate cancer patients and 46 healthy subjects were included in the study. DNA was isolated from 2 mL of peripheral blood taken from subjects, and genotypes were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results: The TIMP-2 –418 (GC) genotype was found in 15 cases (32.6%) in the control group and in 9 cases (14.8%) in the patients group, and statistical significance was determined (P = 0.037, OR = 0.346). The MMP-2 –1306 (CT) genotype was found 2.17 times more in the patient group than in the control group (P = 0.149, OR = 2.17). Conclusion: Our results show that the TIMP-2 –418 (GC) genotype had a putative protective effect against prostate cancer.