Expressions of extracellular matrix protein 1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in hepatocellular carcinoma and their clinical significances / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expressions of extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1)and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to explore their correlations with metastasis and recurrence.Methods Immunohistochemisty was employed to determine the expressions of ECM1 and MMP-9 in 120 HCC and 17 normal liver tissues.Results The positive rates of ECM1 and MMP-9 expression in HCC tissues were 73.3％ (88/120) and 65.0％ (78/120),respectively.They were significantly higher than that in normal liver tissues.The expression of ECM1 in HCC tissues was significantly correlated with vascular invasion and TNM stage.The expression of MMP-9 in HCC tissues was significantly correlated with tumor size,number of tumor nodules,differentiation of tumor and degree of cirrhosis.They were not correlated with age,gender,serum AFP level,HBsAg,Child-Pugh class and capsulated tumor.Patients with ECM1 and MMP-9 positivity had significantly poorer overall and disease-free survival rates.There was a significant positive correlation between ECM1 and MMP-9 (r=0.585,P＜0.001).Conclusion Both ECM1 and MMP-9 were significantly related to invasion and metastasis.Over-expression of both ECM1 and MMP-9 had predictive values for prognosis and recurrence of HCC after surgery.