The Expression And Clinical Significance Of MMP-3, MMP-9 And TIMP-3 In Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Aim:To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 3(MMP-3), matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP-9) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 3(TIMP-3) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues, para-tumor tissues and normal esophageal tissues, and analyze the association with clinicopathological features of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Their concentrations in serum also were investigated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and benign esophageal diseases.Method:The expression levels of MMP-3, MMP-9 and TIMP-3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR in 89 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues,30 cases of the corresponding para-tumor tissues and normal esophageal tissues, and their association with clinicopathologic characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was analyzed. Their concentrations in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 30 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 30 cases of benign esophageal diseases.Result:The expression of MMP-3, MMP-9 and TIMP-3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues were significantly higher than those in para-tumor tissues and normal esophageal tissues (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed between para-tumor tissues and normal esophageal tissues (P>0.05). The expression level of MMP-3, MMP-9 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was not associated with some clinical features such as sex, age, pathological classification (P>0.05), but associated with depth of invasion, lymphatic metastasis and tumor stages(P< 0.05). The expression level of TIMP-3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was not associated with some clinical features such as sex, age, pathological classification, depth of invasion (P>0.05), but associated with lymphatic metastasis and tumor stages(P<0.05). The expression level of MMP-3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was negative correlated with the expression of TIMP-3 (r=-0.383, P=0.000). The concentrations of MMP-3, MMP-9 and TIMP-3 in serum were significantly higher than those in benign esophageal diseases (P< 0.05). In addition, there was a positive correlation between the expression of MMP-3, MMP-9 and TIMP-3 in the carcinoma tissues and their concentrations in serum(P< 0.05).Conclusion:To detect MMP-3, MMP-9 and TIMP-3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues and their concentrations in serum might be helpful to diagnosis and judge prognosis.