Immunohistochemical detection of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 1 and 2, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP 2) in stage IB cervical cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent metalloendopeptidases which participate in the degradation of collagen and other extracellular matrix macromolecules. Expression of gelatonic MMPs, such as MMP-2 has been linked to enhanced tumor invasion and metastases in in vitro and in vivo model systems. It was the aim of this study to determine whether the expression of MMP-1, MMP-2, and TIMP-2 correlates with survival in patients with surgically treated cervical cancer stage IB.


METHODS
A sample of 154 paraffin-embedded tumor specimens of surgical treated FIGO stage IB cervical cancer was immunohistochemically investigated.


RESULTS
MMP-1, MMP-2, and TIMP-2 were detected by immunohistochemistry in 74% (113/154), 32% (49/154), and 80% (107/154) of the tumor samples, respectively. Correlation coefficients for MMP-1/MMP-2, MMP-1/TIMP-2, MMP-2/TIMP-2 were 0.14 (p = 0.12), 0.37 (p = 0.0001), and 0.17 (p: 0.005), respectively. A significant correlation was found between MMP-1 and lymph node status (P < 0.01) and lymphvascular space invasion (P < 0.05). The expression of MMP-1 (log-rank test, p = 0.6), MMP-2 (log-rank test, p = 0.8), and TIMP-2 (log-rank test, p = 0.15) were not correlated with overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
MMP-1, detected by immunohistochemistry, seems to play a role in the development of lymphvascular space invasion and lymph node metastases, but is not helpful in predicting the prognosis of cervical cancer patients.
Moser
P L
PL
Department of Pathology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Kieback
D G
DG
Hefler
L
L
Tempfer
C
C
Neunteufel
W
W
Gitsch
G
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000032:analysis*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1