ABSTRACT
Purpose: to analyze the expression of MMP-2. MMP-9, and VEGF and mean vascular count [MVC] in both serous and mucinous ovarian tumors. The correlation of these markers with clinico-patological characteristics was also evaluated
Methods: Ninety five paraffin-embedded sections of ovarian tumors were stained for MMP-2, MMP-9. VEGF and CD34 using standard immunohistochemistry. The intensity and percentage of positive cells were evaluated using HSCORE for MMPs and VEGF. The MVC as stained by CD34[X 400] was also evaluated. Correlations between HSCOREs of MMP-2, MMP-9 with VEGF expressions were evaluated. The relationships between the above markers with clinico-pathological characteristics and the correlations between VEGF with MVC were also studied
Results: There is a significant increase in HSCOREs of tumor and stromal cells with the transitions through tumorigenesis phases [P<0.0001 for all markers]. Serous tumors showed significantly higher expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 and MVC as compared with mucinous tumors. The expression of all markers was significantly correlated with clinic-pathological characteristics of the tumors
Conclusion: MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF are expressed by both tumor and stromal cells of ovarian tumors and their expressions are associated with the transitions from benign, through borderline, to malignant nature. The above markers are correlated with clinico-pathological characteristics