Significance of MMP-9, HPSE and VEGF-C protein expression in antiangiogenic and antilymphatic therapy for lung cancer of middle and aged people

Objective To investigate significance of metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9), heparanase (HPSE) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) protein expression in antiangiogenic and antilymphatic therapy for lung cancer of middle and aged people. ~Methods The expression of MMP-9, HPSE and VEGF-C proteins in lung cancer tissues, adjacent tissues of cancer and normal tissues were detected and analyzed by immunohistochemical SABC method combining the clinic pathological characteristic and prognosis of lung cancer of 65 cases. Results The rate of expression of MMP-9, HPSE and VEGF-C protein in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues of cancer and normal tissues (P0.05). It was showed that MMP-9, HPSE and VEGF-C protein expression did significantly not correlate with the type and grade of the tumor (P0.05), but it correlated with the clinical stage and survival time of the patients significantly (P0.05). Conclusions The over-expression of MMP-9 and HPSE protein is closely related to development, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis of lung cancer. VEGF-C acts as a key factor in the facilitation of lymphatic metastasis in lung cancer. The cooperation of MMP-9, HPSE and VEGF-C perhaps participate in regulation of invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. The expression of ~MMP-9 , HPSE and VEGF-C protein may be used as an useful marker of judging the biological behavior and prognosis of lung cancer. This result provides important experimental basis for antiangiogenic and antilymphatic therapy for lung cancer.