Production of collagenase and inhibitor (TIMP) by intracranial tumors and dura in vitro.

The production of collagenase and collagenase inhibitor (TIMP) by various intracranial tumors (25 meningiomas, eight gliomas, seven metastases, four pituitary adenomas, and five others) was studied in short-term organ culture. While meningiomas produced negligible amounts of collagenase, two metastatic carcinomas of bronchial and breast origin produced significant amounts of the enzyme. Cultures of dura from an invasive meningioma and of bone invaded by a meningioma also produced collagenase. In varying amounts, TIMP was detected in culture media from most of the tumors studied; invasive tumors tended to produce less TIMP than noninvasive tumors. The results are discussed in relation to current views on tissue degradation and mechanisms of tumor invasion.