Clinicopathological Significance of MMP_2,MMP_9,TIMP_1 and TIMP_2 Expressions in Human Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective To study the clinicopathological significance of MMP_2,MMP_9,TIMP_1 and TIMP_2 expressions in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods The expressions of MMP_2,MMP_9,TIMP_1 and TIMP_2 in 43 patients with NSCLC and 15 normal epithelial tissues of the lung were detected by immunohistochemical S-P method.Results The(positive) rates of MMP_2,MMP_9,TIMP_1 and TIMP_2 in NSCLC were 79.1%,74.4%,55.8% and 60.5% respectively,which were significantly higher than those in normal epithelial tissues of the lung(P0.05 or P0.01).The positive rates of MMP_2 and MMP_9 were significantly higher in stage Ⅲ than those in stage Ⅰ+Ⅱ stage NSCLCs(P0.05).The positive rates of TIMP_1 and TIMP_2 were much lower in grade 3 and stage Ⅲ than those in grade Ⅰ and stage Ⅰ NSCLC(P0.05).The expressions of MMP_2,MMP_9,TIMP_1 and TIMP_2 were closely associated with lymph node metastasis and 3-year survival rate of NSCLC(P0.05),but not to other clinical parameters(P0.05).Conclusions Over expressions of MMP_2,MMP_9,TIMP_1 and TIMP_2 are closely correlated to the progression,metastasis and poor prognosis of NSCLC.It might be useful in evaluation of the NSCLC progression,and to predict the metastasis and prognosis.