Expression Of MMP-9 Protein In Uterus Cervical Cancer And Their Clinical Significance

ObjectiveMatrix metal proteinase 9(MMP-9)is one of the MMP₅ closed correlated with the ability of metastasis in cervical cancer.To investigate the MMP-9 protein expressions during the development of squamous cell carcinomas(SCC)from Low-grades quamous intraepithelial lesions(LSIL),High-grades quamous intraepithelial lesions(HSIL),and carcinomas in situ.To find out the possible effect on the development of SCC.MethodsFrom March 2003 to September 2007,20 patients with chronic cervicitis,20 patients with LSIL(cervical intraepithelial neoplasmâ… , CINâ… ),20 patients with HSIL(CINⅡ—Ⅲ),and 70 patients with SCC were selected.The protein expressions of MMP-9 in tissue were detected by SP Immunohistochemical technique.ResultsThe positive expression of MMP-9 in SCC was much higher than those in chronic cervicitis,LSIL and HSIL(P＜0.05).MMP-9 expression in HSIL was increased than those in chronic cervicitis and LSIL(P＜0.05),and the expression of MMP-9 in LSIL was also increased than that in chronic cervicitis(P＜0.05). In SCC,the relation between the MMP-9 expressions and the patient age,clinical stage and diameter of tumor were studied.The positive expression of MMP-9 in patients below 35 years old were no significant difference in those above 35 years old(P＞0.05).The expression of MMP-9 protein in patients with varied FIGO clinical stage were different. The MMP-9 protein expression in patients withâ… A₂ stage were much lower than that in patients both withâ… B1～ⅡB stage andⅢ～Ⅳstage (P＜0.05).There were no statistical difference between patients withâ… B1～ⅡB stage andⅢ～Ⅳstage(P＞0.05).The MMP-9 expression were also no significant difference in diameter of tumor between below 4cm and above 4cm(P＞0.05).The correlation between the MMP-9 expressions and tumor differentiation and pathologic diagnosis were observed in SCC.The MMP-9 expression in tumor of high differentiation was remarkably lower than that in low differentiation(P＜0.05).There were no statistical difference between tumor of middle differentiation and high differentiation(P＞0.05).The MMP-9 expression was not related to the invaded vessel,the invaded depth of cervical wall(＞1/2)and lymph node metastasis in SCC(P＞0.05).ConclusionThe increased expression of MMP-9 protein from the damaged cervical epithelium cell to cancerous cell may play a key role in development of cervical squamous cell carcinomas.The closed relationship between MMP-9 and SCC may be helpful to estimate the prognosis.