Expression Of MMP-7 Gene In Gastric Cancer Tissues And Its Correlation With Metastasis In Portal Vein Blood And Peritoneal Cavity

Objective To study the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7 ) mRNA in gastric cancer and the relationship between in its expression and clinicopathologic factors and metastasis in portal vein blood and peritoneal cavity and explore its clinical significance. Methods In 30 patients with gastric cancer resection, the abdomen (close to tumor) was irrigated with 50ml saline solution at a temperature of 37℃ immediately after laparotomy, subsequently, the peritoneal washings were collected, then 5ml portal vein blood was collected. All samples were detected by Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction( RT-PCR ) method using CK20mRNA. Tumor tissues and the surrounding normal tissues preparations were detected by RT-PCR method using MMP-7mRNA. Lavages of 10 patients with benign disease who underwent laparotomy served as controls, 5ml portal vein blood and 25ml peritoneal washings were detected by RT-PCR method using CK20mRNA as the 30 patients with gastric cancer. Results The positive rate of CK20mRNA of portal vein blood in patients with MMP-7mRNA expression (83.3%,15/18) were significantly higher than those without MMP-7 expression (8.3%,1/12), (P<0.001), and the positive rate of CK20mRNA of peritoneal washings in patients with MMP-7mRNA expression (66.7%,12/18) were higher than those without MMP-7mRNA expression (41.7%,5/12) ,but do not have statistical significance (P=0.264) ;The overexpression of MMP-7mRNA was also related to different gastric cancer cell line, the TNM classification and the stage of the cancer (P<0.05) . None of 10 patients with benign disease was positive. Conclusion MMP-7 gene may play a role in the blood metastasis of patients with gastric cancer, All the patients with over expression of MMP-7mRNA should be chemical theraped as soon as early and it also can be helpful to the judgement of prognosis of gastric cancer.