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 > or =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 > or =5 cm adjacent tissues (19%, 11%, and 9%; chi(2) = 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%, chi(2) = 7.61, P<0.05), Lauren's classification of diffuse/mixed types: 54.2%, intestinal type: 26.3%, chi(2) = 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%, chi(2) = 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.