Expression and significance of CD44v6 and nm23 and MMP-9 in gastric cancer

Objective To investigate the relationship among the expressions of CD44v6,nm23 and MMP-9 and lymph node metastasis,differentiated degree as well as invasion depth in primary gastric carcinoma.Methods Seventy cases of gastric carcinoma,20 cases of chronic superficial gastritis,20 cases of large intesinal metaplasia and 20 cases of atipical hyperplasia were investigated using antibodies to CD44v6,MMP-9 and nm23 by S-P immunohistochemical technique.Results The positivity rates of CD44v6,MMP-9 and nm23 in gastric cancer were 64.3%,60.0%,57.1%,respectively.The positivity rates of CD44v6 and MMP-9 in gastric carcinoma were higher than that in the control groups.The positivity rates of nm23 in gastric carcinoma were lower than that in the control groups.The difference between the expression of CD44v6,MMP-9 and nm23 and lymph node metastasis was statistically significant.There was statistically significant difference between the expression of MMP-9,nm23 and the depth of invasion.CD44v6 expression in gastric cancer was positively correlated with MMP-9 expression(P0.01),but negatively correlated with nm23 expression(P0.05).nm23 expression in gastric cancer was negatively correlated with MMP-9 expression(P0.01).Conclusion The detection of CD44v6,MMP-9 and nm23 is valuable in evaluating differential degree,depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer.