Relationship Between The Expression Of Cyclooxygenase-2, Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 And Invasion, Metastasis Of Gastric Carcinoma

Objective: To study the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2)in gastric carcinoma and their relationship with tumor cell invasion and metastasis .To investigate their correlation.Methods: The expression of COX-2 and MMP-2 in 46 cases of gastric carcinoma and 15 cases of normal gastric tissue was detected by SP immunohistochemical technique.The results were analysed by SPSS 10.0 .Results: COX-2 and MMP-2 were negative in 15 cases of normal gastric tissue.In 46 cases of gastric carcinoma the positive rate of COX-2 was 60.87%.It was significantly higher than that in the normal gastric tissue. COX-2 expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage(P<0.05).No correlation was found between increased COX-2 and the tumor size,depth of invasion and differentiation of gastric carcinoma(P> 0.05). The positive rate of MMP-2 was 71.7%. It was significantly higher than that in the normal gastric tissue too. MMP-2 expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and depth of invasion (P<0.05).No correlation was found between increased MMP-2 and the tumor size and differentiation of gastric carcinoma(P > 0.05). The expression of MMP-2 was significantly correlated with COX-2(P<0.05).Conclusion: The results suggest that the overexpression of COX-2 and MMP-2 in gastric carcinoma is closely correlation.They may play a crucial role in gastric cancer invasion and metastasis.lt indicate that COX-2 and MMP-2 may be markers in evaluating prognosis of gastric carcinoma and provide targets for chernopreventive therapy.