Relationship between microvascular density, expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and clinical pathology in glioma

Objective: To explore the relation between microvascular density (MVD), expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and malignancy in glioma. Methods: The expression of MMP-9 and CD₃₄ in 10 cases of normal brain tissues and 58 cases of glioma were detected by immunohistochemical streptavidin-peroxidase technique. The positive cells of MMP-9 and the positive microvessels were examined under binocular light microscope. Results: Circled digit one The positive expression of MMP-9 in glioma was located in the tumor cytoplasm and endothelial cells. Circled digit two The positive rates of MMP-9 in glioma of grades I , II, III and IV were 42.9%, 65.0%, 86.7% and 88.9%. The expression of MMP-9 was correlated with glioma malignancy (r_s = 0.597, P<0.05). Circled digit three MVD was correlated with glioma malignancy (H = 47.865, P<0.05). Conclusion: The expression of MMP-9 and MVD is correlated with glioma malignancy, which may be helpful in judging the malignancy, invasion and prognosis of glioma.