The expression of MMP-3 and TIMP-3 in non-small cell lung cancer

Objective To investigate the expression of MMP-3 and TIMP-3 in non-small cell lung cancer tissue and their significance. Methods The expression of MMP-3 and TIMP-3 in 56 lung carcinoma tissues and 56 para-cancerous normal lung tissues were detected by immuno histochemishy tecneque. Results The expression of MMP-3 in non-small cell lung cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in para-cancerous normal lung tissues (P<0.05).The expression of MMP-3 was significantly higher in non-small cell lung cancer with lymph node metastasis than that in lung carcinomas without lymph node metastasis (P<0.05),and was significantly higher in stage-Ⅲ and stage-IV tumours than that in stage-I and stage-Ⅱtumours (P<0.05).The expression of TIMP-3 in non-small cell lung cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in para-cancerous normal lung tissues (P<0.05).The expression of TIMP-3 was significantly lower in non-small cell lung cancer with lymph node metastasis than that in lung carcinomas without lymph node metastasis(P<0.05). Conclusions The expression of MMP-3 and TIMP-3 is closely correlated with invasion and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer. Key words: Non-small cell lung cancer ;  Matrix metalloproteinase-3 ;  Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 ;