Clinical significance of expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and MMP-9 in cervical cancer and CIN

Objective:To evaluate the significance of expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)and metris metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)in cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN)and their relationship with stage,pathologic grade,histological classification and lymphnode metastasis.Methods:Sixty two patients with uterine cervical cancer and 40 patients with CIN between in January 2000 and in January 2005 were enrolled in study,35 patients who underwent hysterectomy with normal cervix as control group.The immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of COX-2 and MMP-9.Results:The overall positive expression rates of COX-2 and MMP-9 in cervical cancer and CIN were significantly different compared to that of normal cervical tissues.The positive expression was similar between CINⅠ,CINⅡ and CINⅢ.The expression of both was related to metastasis of lymphnode.The expression of MMP-9 was closely associated with COX-2.Conclusion:The overexpression of MMP-9 and COX-2 are related to the oncogenesis and development of cervical cancer and they may play important roles in the invasion and metastasis of cervical cancer.The expression of MMP-9 is closely associated with COX-2.