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World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2006; 12(18): 2941-2944
Published online May 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i18.2941
Lymph node micrometastasis and its correlation with MMP-2 expression in gastric carcinoma
Ze-Yu Wu, Jing-Hua Li, Wen-Hua Zhan, Yu-Long He
Ze-Yu Wu, Wen-Hua Zhan, Yu-Long He, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China
Jing-Hua Li, Zhong Shan Medical College, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510089, Guangdong Province, China
Ze-Yu Wu, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China
Supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China, No. 30271276
Correspondence to: Dr. Wen-Hua Zhan, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China. rainy1977@21cn.com
Telephone: +86-20-87755766-8211 Fax: +86-20-87335945
Received: November 16, 2005
Revised: November 28, 2005
Accepted: December 22, 2005
Published online: May 14, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To examine matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression in gastric cancer tissues and to evaluate its relationship with lymph node micrometastasis.

METHODS: The authors studied 850 lymph nodes resected from 30 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay in addition to H-E staining. MMP-2 expression of the tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemical technique (EliVisionTM plus).

RESULTS: MMP-2 expression was positive in 21 (70%) cases and negative in 9 (30%) cases. No significant correlations were found between MMP-2 expression and other variables such as age, gender, tumor location, tumor diameter, Lauren classification and lymphatic invasion. In contrast, MMP-2 expression correlated significantly with depth of tumor infiltration (P = 0.022), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.030) and tumor differentiation (P = 0.043). Lymph node micrometastases were detected in 77 (12.5%) lymph nodes of 14 (46.7%) gastric carcinoma patients. MMP-2 expression was positive in 12 (85.7%) of the 14 patients with lymph node micrometastasis, and in 9 (56.3%) of the 16 patients without lymph node micrometastasis (P = 0.118).

CONCOUSION: Our results demonstrate that MMP-2 expression has significant correlation with tumor invasion, tumor differentiation and lymph node metastases. MMP-2 expression may be an important biological characteristics and significant prognostic parameter of gastric carcinoma. We also conclude that MMP-2 may participate in the development of lymph node micrometastasis of gastric carcinoma. Further investigations are needed to draw a conclusion.

Keywords: Gastric carcinoma; Lymph node micrometastasis; MMP-2; RT-PCR; Immunohistochemistry