[Helicobacter pylori infection, the invasion and metastasis of the gastric carcinoma, and the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship among Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, the invasion and metastasis of the gastric carcinoma, and the MMP-2 and TIMP-2 expression.

METHODS

The Warthin-starry method, rapid urease test and 14C-UBT were used to detect the infection of H. pylori. The expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in 22 patients with gastric carcinoma infected by H. pylori and 22 patients with gastric carcinoma but not infected were detected by immunohistochemistry method.

RESULTS

The incidence of serosal invasion and lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric carcinoma infected by H. pylori (81.8% and 72.7% respectively) was significantly higher than that in patients with gastriccarcinoma but not infected (50.0% and 36.4% respectively, P < 0.05). The positive rates of MMP-2 expression in the invasive group (96.6%) and in the metastasis group (100.0%) were significantly higher than that in the non-invasive group (40.0%) and the non-metastasis group (50.0%), whereas the positive rates of TIMP-2 expression in the invasive group (48.3%) and in the metastasis group (45.8%) were significantly lower than that in the non-invasive group (86.7%) and the non-metastasis group (80.0%). The ratios of MMP-2/TIMP-2 in the invasive group (6.86) and in the metastasis group (7.94) were significantly higher than that in the non-invasive group (0.87) and the non-metastasis group (1.07). The positive rate of MMP-2 expression in patients with gastric carcinoma infected by H. pylori (90.9%) was significantly higher than that in patients with gastric carcinoma but not infected (63.6%), whereas the positive rate of TIMP-2 expression in patients with gastric carcinoma infected by H. pylori (36.4%) was significantly lower than that in patients with gastric carcinoma but not infected (P < 0.01). The ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 in patients with gastric carcinoma infected by H. pylori (7.73) was significantly higher than that in patients with gastric carcinoma but not infected (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

associated with the increase of the MMP-2 expression, the decrease of the TIMP-2 expression and the increase of the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 that the incidence of serosal invasion and lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric carcinoma increases by H. pylori infection.