Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2001 Sep;44(9):1671-1677.

Matrix Metalloproteinase-2, -9 Immunohistochemical staining in Cervical carcinoma: The Relationship with Clinicopathologic Prognostic Factors

• Chung JY
• Kim YM
• Kim YT
• Nam JH
• Gong GY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) has been reported to have a key role in the sequence of events that lead to local tumor invasion and metastasis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in cervical neoplasia.
METHODS
Ten cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and 40 cases of cervical carcinoma were analysed by immunohistochemical staining. Paraffin-embedded archival tissue sections were examined for the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. RESULTS: of overexpression were analyzed for the correlation with clinical characteristics and prognostic factors.
RESULTS
The overexpression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was significantly higher in invasive cervical carcinoma than in CIN cases. There was no statistical significance in the correlation between MMP-2 or MMP-9 overexpression and the clinical prognostic factors. However, higher degree of MMP expression was observed in tumors of larger size, poorly differenciated and with lymph node metastasis compared to tumors of smaller size, well differentiated and without lymph node metastasis.
CONCLUSIONS
From these findings, it can be postulated that MMPs may possibly play a role in the late stage of tumorigenesis, implying prognostic value. However, to draw a definite conclusion on their prognostic value, larger number of cases should be studied further.

Keyword

Invasive cervical cancer; Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2, MMP-9)

MeSH Terms

Carcinogenesis
Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Lymph Nodes
Matrix Metalloproteinase 2*
Matrix Metalloproteinases
Neoplasm Metastasis
Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
Matrix Metalloproteinases