Expression Of STAT3 And MMP-2 In Cervical Carcinomas And Their Significance

Objective:To investigate the expression of signal transduction and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in normal cervical tissue, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN), cervical carcinomas and explore their effects in generation, growth and metastasis of cervical carcinomas, trying to search for the new therapeutic target for prognosis and treatment of cervical carcinomas.Methods:Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect expressions of STAT3 and MMP-2 in normal cervical tissue, CIN tissue and cervical cancer. And we analysed their relationship with clinical pathoparameter.Results:(1) The positive rate of STAT3 which were crescent in normal cervical tissue, CIN and cervical carcinomas were 12.5%(2/16),54%(27/50),78%(39/50)respectively.The differences were significant(P<0.05).(2) There was significant difference in expression rates of STAT3 between CIN and normal cervical tissue(P<0.05). And the positive rate of STAT3 in cervical carcinomas were significantly higher than that of normal cervical tissue and CIN(P<0.05). In CIN, the STAT3 expression of CINIII was significantly higher than that of CIN I (P<0.05); while CINⅠand CINⅡ, CIN II and CINIII were no significant difference in rates of STAT3(P>0.05). In cervical carcinomas, there was relationship between STAT3 expression and clinical stage, histological grade and lymph node metastases(P<0.05, respectively), but not related with age, pathological types and tumor size(P>0.05).(3) The positive rate of MMP-2 which were crescent in normal cervical tissue, CIN and cervical carcinomas were 18.75%(3/16),62%(31/50),88%(44/50) respectively.The differences were significant(P<0.05).(4) There was significant difference in expression rates of MMP-2 between CIN and normal cervical tissue(P<0.05). And the positive rate of MMP-2 in cervical carcinomas were significantly higher than that of normal cervical tissue and CIN(P<0.05), and In CIN, the MMP-2 expression of CINⅢwas significantly higher than that of CIN I (P<0.05); and the MMP-2 expression of CINIII was also significantly higher than that of CIN II (P<0.05); while CIN I and CIN II was no significant difference in rates of MMP-2(P>0.05). In cervical carcinomas, there was relationship between MMP-2 expression and clinical stage and lymph node metastases(P<0.05, respectively), but not related with age, pathological types, tumor size and histological grade (P>0.05).(5) There was a significantly positive association between the expression of STAT3 and MMP-2 in cervical carcinomas(r=0.398, P<0.05).Conclusion:(1) Increased expression of STAT3 and MMP-2 were found in cervical carcinomas. And both of their expression had a significant relationship with clinical stage and lymph node metastases of cervical carcinomas. The results suggest that STAT3 and MMP-2 may play a certain role in generation, growth function in cervical carcinomas.(2) The positive expression of STAT3 which were crescent in CIN could be an early thing in the formation of cervical carcinomas. The results suggest that STAT3 may be acted as a warning sign or a new indicator in the development of cervical carcinomas.(3) In cervical carcinomas, there was relationship between STAT3 expression and clinical stage, histological grade and lymph node metastases; and there was relationship between MMP-2 expression and clinical stage and lymph node metastases, suggesting that the two factors may play an important role in the development, infiltration and metastasis of cervical carcinomas.(4) There was a significant positive correlation between the expression of STAT3 and MMP-2 in cervical carcinomas, suggesting that there was a certain interaction between the two factors. The activated STAT3 could induce or increase the expression of MMP-2, and then promote the proliferation, differentiation, infiltration and metastasis of the cervical carcinomas together.