RELATIONSHIP AMONG MMP-2,E-CADHERIN EXPRESSION,DNA CONTENT AND INVASION AND METASTASIS OF GASTRIC CARCINOMA

Objective:To evaluate the expressions of MMP 2,E cadherin in human gastric carcinoma,the DNA content of cancer cells and their relationship with tumor cell invasion and metastasis.Methods: The expressions of Matrix metalloproteinase 2 and E cadherin and the DNA content were observed in 83 cases with gastric cancer and 20 samples of normal stomach tissue.Results:All of the normal stomach tissues did not express MMP 2 but abundantly expressed E cadherin. The incidences of MMP 2 and E cadherin expressed were 78.3 % and 16.9 % respectively in the gastric cancer group. The related factors with MMP 2 expression were the differentiation degree, lymphaden metastasis, deep invasion, diffuse growth and TNM stage of gastric cancer cell. The related factors with E cadherin expression reduced were lower differentiation, deep invasion, diffuse growth and lymphaden metastasis of gastric cancer cell. The DNA index in gastric cancer samples was higher than that in normal stomach tissue (1.47±0.23 vs 0.97±0.15 , P 0.01). The related factors with DNA index were the differentiation degree,invaded deep, diffuse growth and lymphaden metastasis of gastric cancer.Conclusion:The expressions of MMP 2, E cadherin and the DNA content were significantly related with the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cell. The changes of the three factors were the important biologic character of gastric cancer cell and could be helpful for the judgment of gastric cancer metastasis and the patient's prognosis.