Expression and significance of nm23 and MMP-9 in gastric cancer

Aim To investigate the relationship among the expressions of nm23 and MMP-9 and lymph node metastasis,differentiated degree as well as invasion depth in primary gastric carcinoma.Methods Seventy cases of gastric carcinoma,20 cases of chronic superficial gastritis,20 cases of large intestinal metaplasia and 20 cases of atipical hyperplasia were investigated using antibodies to MMP-9 and nm23 by S-P immunohistochemical technique.Results The positivity rates of MMP-9 and nm23 in gastric cancer were 60.0% and 57.1%,respectively.The positivity rates of MMP-9 in gastric carcinoma were higher than that in the control groups.The positivity rates of nm23 in gastric carcinoma were lower than that in the control groups.The difference between the expression of nm23 and MMP-9 and lymph node metastasis was statistically significant.There was statistically significant in the difference between the expression of MMP-9,nm23 and the depth of invasion.nm23 expression in gastric cancer was negatively correlated with MMP-9 expression(P0.01).ConclusionThe detection of MMP-9 and nm23 was valuable in evaluating differential degree,depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer.