Gastric Cancer
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2005; 11(21): 3222-3226
Published online Jun 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i21.3222
Relationship between matrix metalloproteinase-2 mRNA expression and clinicopathological and urokinase-type plasminogen activator system parameters and prognosis in human gastric cancer
Feng Ji, Yue-Liang Chen, En-Yun Jin, Wei-Lin Wang, Zi-Li Yang, You-Ming Li
Feng Ji, Yue-Liang Chen, En-Yun Jin, Wei-Lin Wang, Zi-Li Yang, You-Ming Li, Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Feng Ji, Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. jifeng1126@sina.com.cn
Telephone: +86-571-87236568
Received: June 11, 2004
Revised: June 12, 2004
Accepted: July 22, 2004
Published online: June 7, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mRNA expression and clinicopathologic and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system parameter and prognosis in human gastric cancer.

METHODS: Expression of MMP-2 mRNA, uPA, and uPA-R mRNA in tumor tissues and ≥5 cm adjacent normal tissues from 67 cases of gastric cancer was studied using RT-PCR and Northern blot respectively. Survival analyses were done using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS: The expression rates of MMP-2 mRNA, uPA and uPA-R mRNA in tumor tissues (31%, 41%, and 51%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in ≥5 cm adjacent tissues (19%, 11%, and 9%; χ2 = 4.59, 43.58, and 53.24 respectively, P<0.05, 0.0001, and 0.0001, respectively). Expression of MMP-2 mRNA was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (metastasis: 61.9%, no metastasis: 39.1%, χ2 = 7.61, P<0.05), Lauren’s classification of diffuse/mixed types: 54.2%, intestinal type: 26.3%, χ2 = 4.25, P<0.05, expression of uPA and uPA-R mRNA (uPA+: 55.1%, uPA-: 22.2% and uPA-R+: 54.9%, uPA-R-: 18.8%, χ2 = 5.72 and 6.40 respectively, P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of MMP-2 mRNA expression did not show significant difference in all 67 cases, but revealed an association of the expression of MMP-2 mRNA, uPA, and uPA-R mRNA with worse prognosis (P = 0.0083, 0.0160, and 0.0094, respectively).

CONCLUSION: MMP-2 may play an important role in the development of invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer.

Keywords: Gastric cancer, Matrix metalloproteinase-2, Urokinase-type plasminogen activator