Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and progesterone receptor in endometrial carcinoma

Objectives To detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2)and progesterone receptor(PR)in endometrial carcinoma and to explore the relationship between them and their relationships with clinic-pathological features so as to address the role of MMP-2 in the development of endometrial carcinoma.Methods Endometrial carcinoma tissues collected from 45 women were immunohistochemically stained by streptavidin peroxidase technique with monoclonal antibodies against MMP-2 and PR,respectively.Twelve hyperplasia endometrium and 20 normal endometrium tissues were used as control groups.Results No significant difference of MMP-2 expression were found between normal endometrium of proliferative phase and secretive phase(P0.05).The expression of MMP-2 in endometrial carcinoma was significantly more than in control group(62.2% vs 15.6%,P0.05).The expression of MMP-2 was significantly more in moderately and poorly differentiated carcinoma than in well differentiated carcinoma(82.6% vs 40.9%,P0.01).The expression of MMP-2 was significantly higher in the group with myometrium invasion without myometrium invasion(71.1% vs 14.3%,P0.05).No significant difference of MMP-2 expression was found between stage Ⅱ~Ⅳ and stage I.The PR expression in the carcinoma group was significantly less than in the control group(55.6% vs 84.4%,P0.01).MMP-2 expression was negatively correlated to the PR in endometrial carcinoma group(P=0.0048,r=-0.42).Conclusions MMP-2 plays a role in the development of endometrial carcinoma.Down-regulation of PR might be one of the factors leading to increase of MMP-2 in endometrial carcinoma.MMP-2 is a potential maker to evaluate the prognosis of the endometrial carcinoma.