[Relationship between expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) and tumor angiogenesis, cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in invasive carcinoma of cervix].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) might plays an important role in regulating processes of tumor angiogenesis, invasion,and metastasis. The expression and clinical significance of MMP-9 in early invasive carcinoma of cervix was investigated.

METHODS

Expression of MMP-9, microvessel density (MVD) labeled by CD(34) and proliferation index of cancer cells labeled by Ki-67 in 75 cases of early invasive carcinoma of cervix (ICC), 18 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (CIN), and 15 cases of normal cervical epithelium (NCE) were detected by immunohistochemistry SP method.

RESULTS

MMP-9 was mainly expressed in the cellular membrane and/or cytoplasm in tumor cells,whereas expression of Ki-67 was mainly confined to the nuclei, and that of CD(34), to the vascular epithelial cells in tumor stroma. It was shown that positive rate of expression of MMP-9,Ki-67, and MVD increased remarkably from NCE to CIN,and then to ICC accordingly(P< 0.05). In ICC, MVD was positively related to the expression of MMP-9 (r=0.287, P<0.05). The expression of MMP-9 correlated with pelvic lymph node metastasis, intravascular and stromal infiltration, FIGO staging, histological grading,and Ki-67 expression (P< 0.05 or P< 0.01); but not correlated with patients age and histological types (P >0.05). In cases with pelvic lymph node metastasis, intravascular and deeper stroma infiltration, FIGO staging II, histological grade III and over-expression of Ki-67, positive rate of expression of MMP-9 was significantly higher than that in those without the conditions mentioned above (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In cervical carcinoma, MMP-9 may play an important role during tumor angiogenesis, proliferation of cancer cells, cancer invasion and metastasis. Over-expression of MMP-9 may result in great increase of tumor angiogenesis, rapid proliferation of cancer cells, cancer invasion and metastasis, but it is not the only decisive factor. Detection expression of MMP-9 may be of value in further understanding the biological behavior and predicting the prognosis of cervical carcinoma.