Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) is critical for carcinoma progression. In our study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of the major MMP family such as MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-11 and MT1-MMP at the mRNA in 44 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) that were previously characterized for MMP-7, MMP-1 and MMP-2, and their relation to urokinase system (uPA and uPAR). MT1-MMP, MMP-11 and MMP-2 expressions are closely associated with each other, while MMP-9 and uPAR expressions are inversely associated with the former group. There is no MMP related to clinicopathological factors; however, patients with high MT1-MMP could show worse prognosis, as compared to those with low MT1-MMP expression (p=0.01), as well as MMP-11 did (p=0.02). Both MMP showed clear expression of carcinoma cells by immunohistochemistry. In patients with high MT1-MMP, recurrence was more prominent (23/26: 88.5%) than those with low MT1-MMP (7/18: 38.9%) (p=0.0016). In the 20 cases who died within 3 years, all 15 cases with high MT1-MMP showed initial recurrence of distant metastasis, and the other 5 cases with low MT1-MMP showed locoregional recurrence (p=0.000064). These results could indicate that there is a relevant mechanism of associated expression of clinically significant MMP and that among them, MT1-MMP plays the most critical role in ESCC progression.
Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.