Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Its Inhibitors MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in Human Glioma and Clinical Significance

Objectives:To study the relationship between matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors and the invasion and metastasis of human glioma,as well as the relationship between the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in human primary and recrudes- cent glioma and the grade of malignancy.Methods:Expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were detected in 60 cases of glioma by immuno- histochemical staining.Results:Expression of MMP-2 in gradeⅠandⅡglioma were significantly lower than that in gradeⅢandⅣglioma and the recrudescent glioma,while expression of TIMP-2 in recrudescent glioma was significantly lower than that in gradeⅠandⅡglioma.The expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in normal brain was negative.There was no significant difference between expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in the same grade glioma.Conclusions:Expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 is positively related to the malignancy and invasion of glioma.It is also suggested that expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in human glioma may become an assessable factor for identifying the malignancy and invasion of glioma and evaluating the results of therapy.