EXPRESSIONS OF MMP-2,MMP-9 AND THEIR TISSUE INHIBITOR TIMP-1 IN ESOPHAGEAL CARCINOMA AND THEIR CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Objective To investigate the expressions of matrix metallproteinase-2(MMP-2) and-9(MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metallproteinase-1(TIMP-1) in squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus and their correlation with clinicopatholo-gical parameters. Methods Expressions of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining in sections of the carcinoma(n=55). Results Expression of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were observed in the tissue of the carcinoma,but not in normal esophageal tissue,with the positive rates of 21.8%,81.8% and 78.2%,respectively.Expressions of MMP-2,MMP9 and TIMP-1 were not correlated with the histological differentiation(χ2=0.68-2.76,P0.05).Expression of MMP-9 was correlated with the degree of cancer invasion(χ2=16.55,P0.05).The positive rate of MMP-9 expression was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis than those without(χ2=10.96,P0.05),also obviously higher in cases with clinicopathological stage Ⅲ than in those with 0-ⅠandⅡ(χ2=4.89,9.46;P0.05). Conclusion Expressions of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 are not correlated with histological differentiation,while expression of MMP-9 is related with tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis.