Expression and clinicopathological significance of MMP-3、MMP-7 in epithelialovarian carcinoma

Objective To investigate the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-7 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma and their clinicopathological significance .Mtehods Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-7 in 5 0 cases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma and 1 0 cases of normal ovarian tissue .Results The expression rates of MMP-3 and MMP-7 in 5 0 cases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma are significantly higher than in 1 0 cases of normal ovarian （χ^2 =1 7.2 9 , P〈0.0 5;χ^2 =1 1.2 6 , P〈0.0 5 ） .The expressions of MMP-3 and MMP-7 were in positive correlation with clinical stage （χ2=1 1.5 9 , P〈0.0 0 5;χ^2 =4.5 6 , P〈0.0 5 ） , pathological garade （χ2 =1 6.6 2 , P〈0.0 0 5;χ^2=4.4 3 , P〈0.0 5 ） and lymphatic-metastasis （χ^2 =4.9 , P〈0.0 5;χ^2 =5.4 , P〈0.0 5 ） , while no correlation with histological type .Conclusion The MMP-3 and MMP-7 are over-ex-pressed in ovarian carcinoma , and the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-7 relate to clinical stages , patho-logical grades and lymphatic-metastasis .The over-expression of MMP-3 and MMP-7 may play important roles in the process of carcinogenesis and progression in epithelial ovarian carcinoma . Key words: MMP-3 ;  MMP-7 ;  Epithelial ovarian carcinoma;  Immunohistochemicatry