Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and its correlation with tumor microvascular density and tumor metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To study the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and its correlation with microvascular density(MVD) and tumor metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS The expression of MMP-2 and MVD were detected in the specimens of 50 cases with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 15 cases with nasopharyngeal inflammation by immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS The MVD in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(21.92±7.80) was significantly higher than that in inflammation nasopharyngeal tissues (9.23± 1.84, P 0.01). MVD was much higher in the group of MMP-2 positive expression than that in the group of MMP-2 negative expression. There was a significantly correlation between MMP-2 and MVD (P 0.01). In addition, the MVD was correlated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P 0.01), but there was no relationship with age, tumor size and histological type. CONCLUSION MMP-2 may promote the angiogenesis and play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. MMP-2 and MVD may be very important indicators to determine biological behavior and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.