Expression of MMP-9 and E-cadherin in esophageal carcinoma and its significance

Objective To investigate the expressions of Matrix metalloproteinases-9(MMP-9) and E-cadherin in esophageal carcinoma and its significance.Methods The expression levels of MMP-9 and E-cadherin proteins in cancer tissues of 69 patients with esophageal carcinoma and normal esophageal squamous epithelial tissues of 69 control subjects were determined by immunohistochemical analysis(SP method).Results The expression level of MMP-9 was significantly higher in esophageal carcinoma tissues than that in normal tissues(71.0% vs 46.4 %,P0.05),and the positive expression rate of E-cadherin in esophageal carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in normal esophageal mucous epithelial tissues(50.7% vs 72.5%,P0.01).There were significant differences on expressions of MMP-9 and E-cadherin in different pathological grade and yes or no lymph node metastasis(P0.05 or P0.01).The expression levels of MMP-9 increased and the expression levels of E-cadherin decreased in turn in proportion to the progress of pathological grade(P0.05 or P0.01).The expression levels of E-cadhein in deep invasion of esophageal carcinoma were lower than those in shallow invasion of esophageal carcinoma(P0.01).The expression of MMP-9 was negatively correlated with that of E-cadherin(r=-0.269,P0.05).Conclusions The expressions of E-cadherin and MMP-9 could be possibly correlated with the pathogeny,invasion and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma.