Expression and role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and osteopontin in thyroid carcinoma and thyroid benign tumor

Objective To explore the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) and osteopontin(OPN)in thyroid carcinoma and thyroid benign tumor, and the clinical implications. Methods Immunohistochemical method staining for the paraffin-embedded sections(SP) method was used to detect the expression of MMP-9 and OPN in 85 cases of thyroid carcinoma tissues, 26 cases of thyroid benign tumor tissues and 15 cases of thyroid normal tissues. Results The expression rate of MMP-9 in thyroid normal tissues, thyroid benign tumor tissues and thyroid carcinoma tissues was 20.00%(3/15), 53.85%(14/ 26)and 84.71%(72/85) with the difference being significant among them(P< 0.05).The expression of MMP-9 was related to American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC)clinical stage, differentiation degree, lymph node metastasis and the degree of infiltration in thyroid carcinoma(P<0.05). The expression rate of OPN in thyroid normal tissues, thyroid benign tumor tissues and thyroid carcinoma tissues was 13.33%(2/ 15),46.15%(12/26)and 74.12%(63/85) respectively with the difference being significant among them (P<0.05). The expression of OPN was related to AJCCclinical stage, lymph node metastasis and the degree of infiltration in thyroid carcinoma(P< 0.05). Conclusion Detecting the expression levels of MMP-9 and OPN in thyroid carcinoma is helpful for judging invasion and metastasis potentials of thyroid carcinoma. Key words: Matrix metalloproteinase-9; Osteopontin; Thyroid carcinoma