Accurate detection of matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity in clinical gastric cancer tissues using a fluorescent probe

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) plays an important role in tumorigenesis and metastasis of gastric cancer. Therefore, specific and sensitive detection of MMP-2 is of great significance for clinical diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of gastric cancer. Herein, we developed a new approach for accurate detection of MMP-2 activity both in gastric cancer cells and clinical tissues using a fluorescent probe Dab-PLGVRGY-FITC. The capability of the probe for detecting MMP-2 was systematically evaluated in gastric cancer MGC-803 cells and clinical gastric cancer tissues. Around 40-fold fluorescence enhancement at a wavelength of 520 nm was determined for the assays of the probe with recombinant MMP-2. The detection limit of MMP-2 was as low as 42 ng mL−1. Strong fluorescence signals were detected in MGC-803 cells and mouse gastric cancer tissues. Fluorescence signal enhancements of 11 clinical gastric cancer tissue lysates were 5.8 ∼ 9 times (7.53 ± 0.77 on average) higher than those from gastritis patients. This probe could be potentially used for early diagnosis of gastric cancer in clinics.