Expression of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-2 proteins in colorectal carcinoma and their clinical significances by tissue array

Objective To investigate the association between the aggresive behaviors and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2),matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2(TIMP-2) proteins in colorectal carcinoma and to seek the markers for independently predicting the invasion and metastasis of the tumor. Methods High-through tissue microarray technique and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the protein expression of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-2 in the colorectal cancer and their matched peri-cancer normal epithelial tissues. Results Significantly high expression of MMP-9 protein and obvious low expression of TIMP-2 protein were found in colorectal cancer compared with their matched normal epithelial tissues(P0.05,P0.01,respectively).Expression of MMP-2 protein in the colorectal cancer with Dukes' C and D stages and in the cancer with infiltration depth to the serosa was significantly higher than that of in the cancer with Dukes' A and B stages and cancer with infiltration depth in the intra-deep muscularis(P0.05),but positive expression of TIMP-2 protein in the cancer with Dukes stages' A and B was significantly higher than that of in the colon and rectal cancer with Dukes' C and D stages(P0.05).There was obviously higher expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins in the colorectal cancer with local lymph node metastasis than that in the cancer without lymph node metastasis(P0.05).Cases of colorectal cancer with TIMP-2 positive expression had more longer survival than that with negative staining of TIMP-2 protein(P0.05).There were significantly positive correlation between MMP-2 and MMP-9(P0.001) proteins expression,but significantly negative correlation of between MMP-2 and TIMP-2(P0.05)in the colorectal cancer.Logistic regression analysis indicated that MMP-2 protein expression,depth of tumor invasion and Dukes stages might be used as the independent prognostic values for metastasis of colorectal cancer.Conclusion High expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2 proteins and loss of balance between MMP-2 and TIMP-2 protein expression might play an important role in the process of colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis;MMP-2 protein can be used as an independent prognostic molecular marker for the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer.