Popis: |
Metalloproteinase(MMPs) is considered to be associated with the development of carcinoma, especially with the invasion and metastases of cancer. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-2 and biological behavior of ovarian cancer.The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-2 in 128 patients with ovarian tumor was determined using immunohistochemical methods, and their relationship to many clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.Immunohistochemical studies revealed a diffuse granular distribution of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-2 in the cytoplasm of the carcinoma cells. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-2 was stronger in ovarian adenocarcinoma tissue than in ovarian benign tumor tissue (P0.01). MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were found to be significantly higher in grade III-IV adenocarcinoma than in grade I-II adenocarcinoma (P0.01). MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in G3 than in G1-2 tumors. Furthermore, the expression rate of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was higher in cases with lymph node metastases thanin those with non-lymph node metastasis. TIMP-2 expression was contrary to the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 on that three respects in ovarian carcinomas.The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-2 correlate with tumor stage, poor differentiation, and lymphonodes metastases, which suggests that co-expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-2 within the same tumor seem to play an important role in the progression of ovarian cancer and could be useful prognostic markers for patients with ovarian carcinoma. |