Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor in gastric cancer and its correlation with invasion and metastasis

Objective To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)in human gastric cancer and to validate the significance and distinction of angiogenesis in vascular invasion and metastasis.Methods VEGF,MMP-9 expression and microvessel density(MVD)were detected by immunohistochemistry in surgically resected specimens(cancer tissues,cancer-adjacent tissues and normal tissues)from 70 gastric cancer patients,and the results were analyzed according to clinical pathologic characteristics.Results VEGF and MMP-9 expression were higher in gastric cancer tissues than those in the cancer-adjacent and controls(VEGF:77.14%vs 5.71%,12.86%,P0.01;MMP-9:68.57%vs 8.57%,5.71%,P0.01).The positive rates of VEGF and MMP-9 expression were related to the tumor size(2 cm,2-5 cm and5 cm in diameter,VEGF:42.86%,92.86%and 78.57%;MMP-9:28.57%,75.00%and 83.33%;all P0.05)and the tumor differentiation(high,moderate and low differentiation,VEGF:71.43%,70.59%and 90.91%,MMP-9:71.43%,64.71%and 72.73%;all P0.05).VEGF and MMP-9 expression in metastasis-positive group were 100%and 95.24%,respectively.The mean values of MVD were significantly different between VEGF or MMP-9 positive group(t=3.23,P0.01;t=3.89,P0.01).Conclusion VEGF and MMP-9 expression are associated with high angiogenesis in gastric cancer,so VEGF and MMP-9 may serve as new target proteins to resist the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer.