Cerebrospinal Fluid MMP-9 Levels in Glioma Treatment
Author Information
Author(s): Eric T Wong, David Alsop, Diana Lee, Angela Tam, Loretta Barron, Julianne Bloom, Shiva Gautam, Julian K Wu
Primary Institution: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Hypothesis
Can doxycycline block MMP activity in patients with recurrent malignant gliomas?
Conclusion
Increased CSF MMP-9 activity could be a biomarker of disease activity in patients with malignant gliomas, before any changes are detectable on MRI.
Supporting Evidence
- Doxycycline completely abolished MMP-9 activity in vitro at 500 μg/ml.
- MMP-9 levels progressively increased during treatment despite stable MRI.
- Two patients died from probable pulmonary embolism during the trial.
Takeaway
This study looked at how a drug called doxycycline affects certain proteins in the fluid around the brain in patients with brain tumors. They found that one of these proteins, MMP-9, increased during treatment, which might help doctors see if the tumor is getting worse even before it shows up on scans.
Methodology
The study involved measuring MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in cerebrospinal fluid from patients undergoing treatment with irinotecan, thalidomide, and doxycycline, alongside in vitro tests on glioma cell lines.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small number of patients and the observational nature of the study.
Limitations
The study was limited by a small sample size and the early termination of patient enrollment due to adverse events.
Participant Demographics
Patients included adults with recurrent malignant gliomas, aged 34 to 67, with varying tumor types.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.003
Statistical Significance
p = 0.007
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website