Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 mRNA in human gastric cancer

Objective To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP 2) mRNA and protein in gastric cancer. Methods Tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues in 25 cases of gastric cancer were studied by using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) and immunohistochemical techniques. Results The rate of expression of MMP 2 mRNA in tumor tissues was higher than that in 2cm and ≥5cm adjacent normal tissues and significantly higher than that in ≥5cm adjacent tissues ( P 0.05). The result of immnohistochemical staining was almost similar to that by RT PCR method. The signals of MMP 2 cDNA were significantly stronger in tumor tissues than those in the other two group of adjacent normal tissues ( P all0.01). The mRNA expression correlated well with histological differentiaton and clinical staging of gastric cancer. The signals in tumor and in 2cm adjacent normal tissues of 19 cases with advanced cancer were significantly stronger than those in 6 cases with early cancer ( P all0.05).Conclusions MMP 2 may play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis in gastric cancer.