The expressions and significance of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in human pancreatic carcinoma

Objective: To study the expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in pancreatic carcinoma and their relationship with tumor invasion, local metastasis and prognosis of the carcinoma. Methods: The expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were examined in 32 patients with pancreatic carcinomas by S-P immunohistochemical technique and the correlation with pathological tumor parameters were analyzed. Survival analysis was made by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The positive rates of MMP-2, TIMP-2 in 32 patients with pancreatic carcinoma were 56. 25% and 75. 00%, which were significantly higher than those of the controls(P<0. 05). Expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were independent of sex, age, histological grading and type, but well correlated with the lymph node metastasis and TNM clinical staging (I and III, II and III). There was a significant association between MMP-2, TIMP-2 and prognosis in pancreatic carcinoma. Conclusion: MMP-2 and TIMP-2 might be useful markers for biological aggressiveness of this malignancy and might contribute to the invasive properties of pancreatic carcinoma, which can be used to evaluate the prognosis of patients.