Relationship between the expression of type IV collagenase MMP_2 and HCC invasion and metastasis

AIM To investigate the relationship between M r 72000 type Ⅳ collagenase (MMP_2) expression and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) invasion and metastasis. METHODS MMP_2 mRNA and its protein was tested in 34 HCC surgical specimens by using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques. There were 30 HCC in cirrhotic liver and 4 HCC in non_cirrhotic liver, 24 cases showed invasive growth or portal cancer emboli or metastasis, and 10 cases had intact surrounding membrane. RESULTS The MMP_2 expression in HCC cells was higher in 16 and 18 out of 24 invasive cases than that of their pericarcinomatous tissues in mRNA and its protein level, respectively. While in 10 non_invasive cases, only 3 showed MMP_2 positive expression in their HCC cells. The MMP_2 positive rate was higher in metastatic HCC (83 3%, 15/18) than that of non_metastatic HCC (37 5%, 6/16), and the most intensely positive areas were found near the periphery of the neoplasms. CONCLUSION The MMP_2 expression in HCC cells may be correlated with the invasion and metastasis of HCC.