Expressions Of MMP-2, MMP-9 And Its Tissue Inhibitor TIMP-1 In Esophageal Carcinoma And Its Clinical Significance

Objective To investigate the expressions of Matrix Metallproteinase-2 and Matrix Metallproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of Matrix Metallproteinase-1 in squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus and its clinic significance.Methods Immunohistochemical analysis was carried out in 55 cases surgically resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) .Statistical analyses were performed to determine the association between MMP-2 , MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression and clinicopathological parameters and tumor invasion and metastasis.Results MMP-2 , MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were not observed in histologically normal esophageal tissues .Overexpressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins were observed in 12 (21.8%) and 45 (81.8%) of the 55 ESCCs, Mainly localized in tumor cell cytoplasm ,TIMP-1 in stromal elements. The expressions of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were not correlated with histological differentiated grading. The expression of MMP-9 was correlated with the degree of cancer invasion (X~2=16.551 P<0.05). In cases with lymph node metastasis, The positive rate of expression of MMP-9 was significantly higher than that in those without lymph node metastasis (X~2=10.958 P<0.05). Overexpression of MMP-9 protein in cases with clinicopathological stage III was higher than that in those with I and II (X~2 =9.462 PO.05). MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were not related to lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological stage.There was no association between MMP-2 , MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression with sex and age.Conclusions Overexpressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 are expressed in tumor cell,TIMP-l in stromal elements. The expressions of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 are not correlated with histological differentiated grading.The expression of MMP-9 might is related to tumor progression .invasion and lymph node metastasis.