[The role of MMP-2 in the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)].
OBJECTIVE
To get insights into the role of MMP-2 in the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to find a method to judge the invasion and metastasis of HCC through MMP-2.


METHODS
Zymograph and immunohistochemistry were used to study the content and types of positive cells of MMP-2 in the HCC, and statistical methods were used to analyse the association between the content of MMP-2 and the pathological indexes of HCC.


RESULTS
MMP-2 was expressed by all the normal liver, HCC and surrounding liver parenchyma. The increase of MMP-2 and the presence of the active type of MMP-2 were related to the invasion and metastasis of HCC. The content of MMP-2 in HCC being higher than that in surrounding liver parenchyma was an important index to judge the invasion and metastasis of the HCC. The positive cells of MMP-2 found in immunohistochemistry were normal hepatocytes, cholangioepithelial cells, Ito cells, regenerated hepatocytes, new generated cholangioepithelial cells, and HCC cells.


CONCLUSIONS
MMP-2 was related to the invasion and me astasis of HCC. The content of MMP-2 in HCC being higher than that in surrounding liver parenchyma could be bused as an important index to judge the invasion and metastasis of HCC.
Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University.
W
W
Bu
X
X
Huang
Z
Z
Tang
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000556:secondary*; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000502:physiology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2