Background/Aim: Mounting evidence has suggested that polymorphisms in the promoters of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes are associated with the risk of many types of cancer, but no study has ever explored these polymorphisms as biomarkers for renal cell cancer (RCC). Recently, it was suggested that serum MMP-7 levels have both diagnostic and prognostic potential for RCC. In this study, we focused on the contribution of two functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of MMP-7 (A-181G and C-153T) to RCC. Materials and Methods: These two polymorphisms were genotyped in 92 patients with RCC and 580 controls by PRC-RFLP analysis. Results: The results showed that there is no significant association of the RCC risk with the MMP-7 A-181G genotype, even after adjusted for the possible confounding factors. The MMP-7 C-153T polymorphism was not identified among the subjects investigated. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the two MMP-7 polymorphisms A-181G and C-153T do not play a major role in determining personal susceptibility to RCC in Taiwan.
