Expression and clinical significance of p53, E-cadherin and MMP7 in carcinoma of gallbladder

Purpose To detect the expression of p53, E-cadherin and MMP7 and to discuss the correlation of them in carcinoma of gallbladder, and then to evaluate the relationships with pathogenesis, invasion, metastasis and prognosis. Methods immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of p53, E-cadherin and MMP7 in 54 cases of primary carcinoma of gallbladder. Results The positive rate of p53, E-cadherin and MMP7 was 48.1%, 59.3% and 94.4%, respectively in 54 cases of carcinoma of gallbladder. The over-expression of p53 was correlated to the differentiation and clinical stage. The abnormal or decreased expression of E-cadherin was correlative with clinical stage, nerve invasion and lymph node metastasis. The over-expression of MMP7 was correlative with clinical stage, differentiation, liver and nerve invasion, and lymph node metastasis. The Spearman correlation analysis suggested that the expression of MMP7 and E-cadherin was negatively correlated. The survival analysis indicated that the expression of MMP7, clinical stage, liver and nerve invasion, and lymph node metastasis were associated with survival rate of post-operation. Cox regression indicated that clinical stage and nerve invasion were both correlated with prognosis of carcinoma of gallbladder patients.Conclusions p53, E-cadherin and MMP7 may be significant malignant markers for carcinoma of gallbladder. The relationship between MMP7 and E-cadherin is negatively correlated. MMP7 may be a useful prognostic marker for patients with gallbladder carcinoma, and its detection may be useful for selecting patients for anti-matrix metalloproteinase therapy.