[The role of metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in pancreatic cancer].

Pancreatic cancer is characterized by aggressive behavior, poor prognosis, and predicted shortened survival. It is a major cause of cancer death in Europe and North America. Matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors play an important role in tumor progression. MMPs are able to degrade basement membrane and extracellular matrix and are associated with tumor progression, including invasion, metastasis, growth, migration, and angiogenesis. Some clinical investigations have demonstrated the role of increased MMP expression in several human malignancies, their levels also correlating with tumor stage, invasiveness, and poor survival of patients with pancreatic cancer.