For non-LCM samples, it was obtained also an increased expression for ADAM12 and 17 genes in cancers, while in benign tumors only ADAM12 variants were significantly up-regulated compared to controls.
In vivo, the steady-state of both ADAM9 and ADAM12 mRNA levels was nearly undetectable in both normal livers and benign tumors and increased in hepatocellular carcinomas (up to 3- and 6-fold, respectively) and liver metastases from colonic carcinomas (up to 40- and 60-fold, respectively).