MMP-9 PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA AND ITS CLINICAL SIGNIFIENCE

Objective To explore the relationship between the MMP-9 protein expression and clinical and pathologic factors and to evaluation the putative influence on prognosis of the patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated by radiotherapy.MethodsMMP-9 protein expression in 59 cases of esophageal carcinoma tissues and 41 cases of dysplasia adjacent to tumor tissues were studied with immunohistochemistry.The relationship between expression of MMP-9 protein and the clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.The prognostic factors were studied in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated by radiotherapy alone.ResultsThe positive expression rates of MMP-9 protein in specimens of esophageal carcinoma and corresponding dysplasia tissues were 84.75% and 39.02% respectively(P0.01).The expression of MMP-9 protein was significantly correlated with the depth of tumor invasion in CT image.The positive expression rates of MMP-9 protein was 78.57% in patients with the depth of tumor invasion no more than 2 cm and 100% in patients with that than 2 cm.The protein expression of MMP-9 did not significantly affect the prognosis and the short-term result of esophageal carcinoma treated by radiotherapy.ConclusionProtein expression of MMP-9 was probably correlated with local invasion of esophageal carcinoma,it probably plays an important role in tumor development.