Expression of MMP-26 mRNA and protein in human gastric antrum carcinoma

Purpose To study the expression of mRNA and protein of MMP-26 and its significance in gastric antrum carcinoma and adjacent tissues.Methods The expression of MMP-26 mRNA in 40 cases of gastric antrum adenocarcinoma and 40 adjacent tissues samples were tested by RT-PCR,and Western blotting was employed to detect the expression of MMP-26 protein in 10 samples of each group,102 samples of gastric antrum adenocarcinoma and 58 samples of paracancerous tissues were assayed by immunohistochemical MaxVision method for detection of the expression of MMP-26 protein,and the relationship of MMP-26 expression and clinicopathologic parameters were assayed.Results The expression of MMP-26 mRNA was significantly increased in 27 gastric antrum adenocarcinoma tissues,and of 7 of 10 samples the MMP-26 protein expressed higher by Western blotting.Immunohistochemically,the expression of MMP-26,in 102 specimens,57(55.9%) were positive,only 8 cases of 58 adjacent tissues were positive.The expression of MMP-26 was positively correlated with depth of invasion,lymph node metastasis and TNM stage.Conclusions The expression of MMP-26 protein is highly related to the invasion and metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma and may be a potential marker for early diagnosis and prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma.