RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the role of matrix-metalloproteinases(MMP-2,9) and tissue inhibitor of matrix-metalloproteinase(TIMP-2) in tumor metastasis and to correlate the expression of MMP-2,9 and TIMP-2 in cervical carcinomas. METHODS: We have performed immunohistochemical staining of MMP-2,9 and TIMP-2 on 35 patients of cervical carcinomas who were treated by radical hysterectomy between 1995.1.-1996.12. using paraffin-embeded tissue specimens. RESULTS: The lymph node metastasis and lymphvascular invasion groups showed a significantly higher rate of MMP-2 (50.7% vs 37.1%, 51.2% vs 37.5%) (p<0.05). And the lymphvascular invasion group showed a significantly higher rate of expression of MMP-9 (46.6% vs 29.8%) (p<0.05). But, the lymph node metastasis and lymphvascular invasion groups showed a significantly lower rate of expression of TIMP-2 (14.2% vs 36.5%, 11.2% vs 37.3%) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Lymph node metastasis and/or lymphvascular invasion of cervical carcinoma were related high percentages of MMP-2,9 and low percentages of TIMP-2 expression. These data suggest that the expression of MMPs and TIMPs are closely correlated with the progression of cervical carcinoma. To determine the ratio of cells expressing MMPs and TIMPs are strongly correlated with clinical outcome requires further study.