Prognostic value of matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression in gastric carcinomas

Abstract EN

Aims' Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) might be involved in invasion and metastasis f tumors by degrading extracellular matrix and basement membrane.

Controversial data exist concerning the prognostic value of MMP-2 in gastric carcinomas, so this study was done to evaluate prognostic value of MMP-2 expression in gastric carcinomas and comparing its expression with known prognostic parameters (cancer cell differentiation, depth of invasion and different histological subtype) and to determine its value in detecting metastatic potential (by evaluation of its expression in correlation with vascular permeation and lymph node metastasis).

Methods and Results: This retrospective study included 25 cases of gastric carcinomas, all cases were formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues.

Immunostaining for MMP-2 was done using Avidin-biotin peroxidase method.

MMP-2 expression in tumor tissues was studied with semiquantitative evaluation (Score 0-3).

20/25 cases (80%) of gastric carcinoma showed immunoreactivity and 5/25 cases (20%) were negative.

10/12 cases (833%) of the well-differentiated tumor, 5/7 cases (71.4%) of the moderately differentiated and 5/6 (83.3%) of the poorly differentiated tumor showed immunoreactivity (P=0.568).

As regarding the depth of invasion, 2/4 cases (50%) ofTj, 5/7 cases (71.4%) ofT2) 7/8 cases (87.5%) ofT3 and 6/6 cases (100%) ofT4 showed MMP-2 expression (P=0.0001).

According to WHO classification 'A cases (50%) of papillary carcinoma, 7/8 cases (87.5%) of tubular carcinoma, 7/9 cases (77.7%) of signet ring carcinoma and 5/6 cases (83.3%) of the undifferentiated carcinoma showed immunoreactivity (P=0.727).

According to vascular permeation 11/15 cases (73.3%) without vascular invasion and 9/10 cases (90%) with vascular invasion showed positive staining and 77.7% of them were of (score-3) (P=0.0001).

According to lymph node metastasis 11/16 cases (68.7%) without lymph node metastasis and 9/9 cases (100%) with lymph node metastasis showed MMP-2 expression and (88.8%) of them were of (score-3) (P=0.0001).

Conclusions: MMP-2 expression in gastric carcinomas has prognostic value as it correlated significantly with the depth of invasion, vascular permeation and lymph node, metastasis.

High density of staining (score 3) can help in selecting cases with high metastatic potential