Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 、MMP-9) in the pancreatic carcinoma

Objective To study the expression of matrix metallopro-teinase-2 (MMP-2),matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the pancreatic carcinomas. Methods MMP-2,MMP-9 expression were detected by immunohistochemistry in surgically resected specimens ( cancer tissues,cancer-adjacent tissues and normal tissues) from 30 PC patients,11 pancreatitis patients and 6 normal patients.the results were analyzed combined with clinical pathologic characteristics.The data was analyzed by Chi-Square test.Results There was no expression of MMP-2,MMP-9 in normal pancreatic tissues.Both of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions were 18.2％ in chronic pancreatitis titssues.Expression of MMP-2,MMP-9 were higher in cancer tissues than in cancer-adjacent tissues(63.3％ vs 23.3％,56.7％ vs 40.0％,P ＜0.05).There were positive correlation between MMP-2,MMP-9 expression and lymph nodal metastasis,tumor sizes,clinical stage and differentiation of tumor(P ＜0.05).Conclusions The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was high,and linked to its unfavorable prognosis. Key words: Pancreatic neoplasms;  Matrix metalloproteinase-2;  Matrix metalloproteinase-9 ; Immunohistochemistry