Clinicopathological significance of MMP-2 and MMP-7 expression in colorectal cancer

Objective To examine the clinicopathological significance ofMMP-2 and MMP-7 expression in colorectal cancer.To study the role of MMP-2 and MMP-7 in the invasion and metastasis of human colorectal cancer.Methods Sixty cases of colorectal cancer and 20cases of normal mucous tissue were tested for MMP-2 andMMP-7expression using immunohistochemical stainingS-P method.Results More cases expressed MMP-2 andMMP-7 in colorectal cancer tissue than in normal mucous tissue(P0.05),and the expression of MMP-2 was correlated with MMP-7.The positive expression of MMP-2 andMMP-7 were closely correlated with pathologic grades,Dukes stage and lymph node metastasis(P0.05).Conclusion The increased expression of MMP-2and MMP-7 were related to colorectal cancer progression and might be considered to be useful as marker for biological aggressiveness of thismalignancy.Combined analyses of the expression of MMP-2and MMP-7could be helpful in the evaluation of the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of patients with colorectal carcinoma.