The relationship of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA expressions and their clinical significance in gastric adenocarcinoma / 中华内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate abnormal protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in human gastric adenoearcinoma, and further reveal the clinical significance. Method The MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA proteins expression was determined by immunohistochemistry staining in 45 gastric adenocarcinoma tissues, 45 adjacent specimens and 10 normal gastric mucosa tissues via tissue arrays accordingly. The relationship of these protein expression with differentiation degree, development and progression of gastric adenocarcinoma were also analyzed. Results Positive rates of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA in gastric adenocarcinoma, adjacent specimens and gastric normal mucosa were as follows MMP-9, 82.2%(37/45), 64.4% (29/45), 30.0% (3/10) (P=0.019); VEGF, 73.3% (33/45), 62.2% (28/45), 30. 0% (3/10) (P=0.029); PCNA,84.4% (38/45), 71.1% (32/45), 10.0% (1/10) ,there were statistically significant difference (P = 0. 001). The positive rates of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma were as follows MMP-9,70.0%(7/10), 80. 0% (8/10), 88.0%(22/25), there were statistically significant difference (P=0.015);VEGF, 50.0%(5/10), 60.0% (6/10), 88.0% (22/25), there were statistically significant difference (P =0.000);PCNA, 60.0% (6/10) ,90.0% (9/10) ,92.0% (23/25) ,the difference is significant statistically (P = 0.004). The expression of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA showed positive relationship with each other by rank correlation analysis (P < 0. 05). Conclusion Tissue arrays technology is effective tool to analyze the expression of cancer related proteins in gastric adenocarcinoma. The expression of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA proteins participates in the tumorigenesis and development process of gastric adenocarcinoma, and these can be used as indexes to evaluate prognosis in clinical.