Expressions of HMGB1 and MMP-2 proteins in human pancreatic carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of high mobility group box 1( HMGB1) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) in human pancreatic carcinoma and to explore their relationship to tumor size, differention, regional invasion, lymphatic and blood stream metastasis.METHODS:The immunohistochemical S-P method was used to detect the expressions of HMGB1 and MMP-2 in 73 pancreatic cancer tissues and 30 juxtacancerous tissues.RESULTS:The positive rates of HMGB1 and MMP-2 in pancreatic cancer were 76.7%(56/73) and 64.4%(47/73),respectively, 20.0%(6/30) and 23.3%(7/30) in juxtacancerous tissues, respectively, and both had significant expression difference between pancreatic carcinoma tissues and juxtacancerous tissues,P0.01. The expressions of HMGB1 and MMP-2 were markedly correlated to tumor size, regional invasion, lymphatic and blood stream metastasis, P0.01, but not to the differentiation degree, P0.05, in pancreatic cancer. The HMGB1 expression was positively correlated to MMP-2 expression in pancreatic carcinoma.CONCLUSIONS: The strong expressions of HMGB1 and MMP-2 in pancreatic cancer may play a great role in the progression of pancreatic tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. Examination of expressions of the two proteins might be helpful to judging biological behavior and prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma.