The Effects of Testosterone on MMP-9 Expression Level in Colon and Gastric Cancer Cells in Vitro

Background and aim: Previous studies have suggested that testosterone may have an inhibitory effect on colon and gastric cancer cell growth, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of testosterone on MMP-9 expression levels in colon and gastric cancer cells in vitro.
Materials and methods: This experimental laboratory study involved dividing HCT and AGS cells into control and treatment groups. The treatment group received a cytotoxic concentration of 1 mg/ml of testosterone. The relative expression levels of MMP-9 were examined using the Real-time PCR method, and data analysis was performed using an independent t-test.
Results: The expression level of MMP-9 in HCT cells was significantly decreased compared to the control group (P < 0.001). However, no significant changes in the expression level of MMP-9 were observed in AGS cells in response to a concentration of 1 mg/mL testosterone.
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that testosterone may have a cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cells, suggesting its potential use as a therapeutic agent for colon cancer. However, further studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanism of testosterone's effect on cancer cells and to explore its potential clinical applications.