The relationship of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression with microvascular density in lung carcinoma and its significance

Purpose To investigate the relationship of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression with angiogenesis in lung carcinoma tissue and its significance.Methods The expression of MMP-9、TIMP-1 and CD34 was detected in 84 lung carcinoma tissues by immunohistochemical method.Results The expression of MMP-9 in lung carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that that in para-cancerous normal lung tissues(P0.01).Small cell lung cancer and adenocarcinoma had higher MMP-9 expression than squamous cell carcinoma(P0.01).The expression of MMP-9 was significantly higher in lung carcinomas with lymph node metastasis than in lung carcinomas without lymph node metastasis(P0.01),was significantly higher in stage-Ⅲ and-Ⅳ tumours than in stage-Ⅰand-Ⅱtumours(P0.05).The expression of TIMP-1 in lung carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in para-cancerous normal lung tissues(P0.01).MVD was significantly higher in lung carcinomas with MMP-9 expression positive than in lung carcinomas with MMP-9 expression negative(P0.01).Conclusions MMP-9 can improve the neovascularization of lung carcinoma.MMP-9 expression is closely correlated with invasion and metastasis of lung carcinoma.