Expression And Clinical Significance Of C-Met, MMP-9 In Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of c-Met and MMP-9 protein in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), and the relationship between the expression and the clinicopathological features, and to discuss the action of c-Met and MMP-9 in carcinogenesis,invasion and metastasis of tumor.MethodImmunohistochemistry technique was used to evaluate the expression of c-Met, MMP-9 in 45 specimens of LSCC and 25 normal laryngeal tissues. The relationship between the expression and the clinicopathological prognostic parameters was analyzed.ResultsThe results showed that the positive expression rate of c-Met, MMP-9 in LSCC tisssue(n=45) was 62.2% and 53.3% respectively. But in normal laryngeal tissues was 16% and 24% respect- -tively .There was a significant difference of positive expression between in the two groups( P<0. 05). In LSCC group the positive expression rate of c-Met was significantly correlated with patholonical grade , clinical stage and cervical lymph node metastases(P<0.05), but not with clinical type(P>0.05).And the positive expression rate of MMP-9 was significantly correlated with clinical stage and cervical lymph node metastases (P<0.05), but not with clinical type and patholonical grade (P>0.05).A significant correlation was found between c-Met and MMP-9 expression.ConclusionThe results suggest that excessive expression of c-Met and MMP-9 may be related to the development and invasion of LSCC . c-Met may be involved in the up-regulation of MMP-9 via activation of HGF/c-Met signal pathway,thus play an important role in the invasion ,metastasis of LSCC. c-Met and MMP-9 may be objective marks to estimate the behaviors of LSCC, judge its prognosis and provide a target treatment ofcancer.