Expression Of MMP-3,MMP-7and TIMP-3and Their Clinical Significance In Pancreatic Carcinoma

Objective:To investigate the expression of matrix metallopro-teinase-3(MMP-3)、matrix metalloproteinase-7(MMP-7) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3(TIMP-3) in the normal pancreas,chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma(CP) for exploring the role of MMPs and TIMPs in the process of metastasis and local invasion of human pancreatic carcinoma.Methods:Immunohistochemical staining(S-P method) was used to measure MMP-3、MMP-7and TIMP-3expression in12cases of normal pancreas,14cases of CP and34cases of PC.The results were correlated with clinicopathological tumor parameters.Results:Results The iOD expression of MMP-3, MMP-7and TIMP-3in normal pancreas group, CP group and PC group were1.618±0.213,4.171±0.129,13.871±1.293vs1.814±0.322,6.894±1.282,14.816±3.117vs4.721±1.126,15.821±2.262,12.541±2.277respectively. The expression of MMP-3and MMP-7in pancreatic carcinoma was significantly higher than that in chronic pancreatitis and normal pancreas, while the expression of TIMP-3pancreatic carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal pancreas.Both of MMP-3and MMP-7expression in PC group, the difference had statistically significant(P<0.05) with lymph node involvements and TNM clinical staging; however, the difference had not statistically significant (P>0.05)with the sex, age of patients and histological staging. The difference of TIMP-3expression in PC group had statistically significant(P<0.05) with lymph node involvements and TNM clinical staging; the difference had not statistically significant (P>0.05) with the sex, age of patients and histological staging.The iOD of MMP-3was a positive correlation(P<0.05) with regard to MMP-7in PC group,both of the iOD of MMP-3and MMP-7were negative correlation(P<0.05) with regard to TIMP-3in PC group.Conclusion:In human pancreatic carcinoma. The up-regulation of MMP-3, MMP-7and TIMP-3expression may be involved in processes leading to the strong desmoplastic reaction.MMP-3, MMP-7and TIMP-3might be useful markers for biological aggressiveness of this malignancy and might contribute to the invasive properties of pancreatic carcinoma,which is of significance to diagnosis and treatment.