The significance of COX-2 and MMP-2 protein expression in human gastric carcinoma

Objective To study the significance of COX-2,MMP-2 protein expression and thrie relationships in human gastric carcinoma.Methods COX-2 protein and MMP-2 protein expression were examined by immunohistochemical S-P staining method in 45 cases of human gastric cancer and 20 cases of human normal gastric tissue using COX-2 polyclonal antibody and MMP-2 monoclonal antibody.Results Increased expression of COX-2 protein was present in the cytoplasm of cancer cell in gastric carcinoma;27 out of the 45 cases were COX-2 positive (60%),which was significantly hogher than that in normal gastric mucosa (P0.01);Increased MMP-2 expression of protein was present in the cytoplasm and cytomembrane of cancer cell in gastric carcinoma;29 out of the 45 cases were MMP-2 positive (64.4%),which was significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosa (P0.01);The expression of MMP-2 was significantly correlated with COX-2 (r s=0.569,P0.01).Conclusions The overexpression of COX-2 and MMP-2 protein were found in gastric carcinoma;To stimulate MMPs especially MMP-2 overexpression may be one of the pathways of COX-2 protein to contribute to the invasion and metastasis in human gastric carcinoma.