Expression Of MMP-2 And VEGF-D In Human Pancreatic Cancer And Clinical Significance

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the expression of Matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) and Vascular endothelial growth factor-D(VEGF-D) and define their association with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of human pancreatic cancer. Try to reveal their roles in local tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis and to provide a possible opportunity of adjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer.Methods: The expression of MMP-2 and VEGF-D were detected by Immunohistochemistry(SABC method) in 28 cases of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and 8 normol pancreas tissues. SSPS13.0 package was used in statistical analysis.Results:(1)The stain result of MMP-2 was strong in 5, moderate in 13, weak in 6 and negative in 4 tumors, the high MMP-2 expression ratio was 64.3%. The stain result of VEGF-D was strong in 4, moderate in 12, weak in 7 and negative in 5 tumors, the high VEGF-D expression ratio was 57.1%. Both MMP-2 and VEGF-D show negative in normal pancreas.(2)High MMP-2 expression correlated with lymph nodal metastasis and local tumor invasion (P＜0.05), but not significantly with grade of differentiation, distal metastasis, age or gender(P＞0.05). no significant correlation was found with survival(P=0.559).(3)High VEGF-D expression correlated with lymph nodal metastasis (P=0.014), but not significantly with local tumor invasion, distal metastasis, grade of differentiation, age or gender(P＞0.05). no significant correlation was found with survival(P=0.150)(4)A positive correlation was found between the high expression of VEGF-D and MMP-2(k=0.553, P=0.003). The High group had a significantly higher incidence of lymph nodal metastasis compared with the Low group(P=0.041).Conclusions:(1)Positive expression of MMP-2 and VEGF-D were increased in pancreatic cancer and the stroma.(2)High MMP-2 expression correlated with lymph nodal metastasis and local tumor invasion.(3)High VEGF-D expression correlated with lymph nodal metastasis.(4)A positive correlation was found between the high expression of VEGF-D and MMP-2, MMP-2 and VEGF-D may played a positive role to each other in the mechanism of lymph nodal metastasis in human pancreatic cancer.