RESUMEN
Objective To study the significance and expression of gelatinase A in human gastric cancers (GC). Method Gelatinase A expression in 36 cases of GC was examined by immunohistochemistry method. Results Expression of gelatinase A in GC (31/36) was much higher than that in paratumor tissues (7/18) or normal gastric tissues (2/14). There was no obvious correlation between the total gelatinase A staining and tumor size, Lauren typing . Intense expression of gelatinase A was freguently found in the advanced cancer, especially in GC with serosal invasion and lymph node metastasis, while expression of gelatinase A was not found in the early stage GC. Gelatinase A was shown to be expressed in the extracellur matrix of tumor tissues. The staining positive cells were mainly macrophages. Conclusions Gelatinase A expression could be used as a marker for evaluating the invasion and metastasis of GC. Macrophages may play an important role in this process.