title: Expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in gastric cancer.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are one of the major classes of proteolytic enzymes involved in tumor invasion and metastasis, being inhibited by naturally occurring tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Sixty-five patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer in 1992 at Chonnam National University Hospital were selected for this study. The primary selection criteria were the availability of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded blocks and sufficient clinical follow-up for tumor-specific survival analysis. In this study, we examined the expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in human gastric cancer tissue by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, and the correlation between their expression and clinicopathological parameters. TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expressions were detected predominantly in the peritumor stromal cells rather than tumor cells themselves. Immunohistochemical stainings were concordant with the result obtained by in situ hybridization. The intensity of TIMP-1 immunohistochemical stromal staining correlated with tumor stage (P = 0.009) and patient survival (P = 0.025). However, the intensity of TIMP-2 immunohistochemical stromal staining did not correlate with tumor stage (P = 0.339) and patient survival (P = 0.474). The correlation between the increased TIMP-1 expression and cancer stage noted in this study reflects a role of TIMP-1 in predicting the aggressive behavior of gastric cancer. TIMP-2 expression did not correlate with clinicopathological parameters. However, expression of TIMP-1 and the possible additional value of TIMP-2 should be further explored in determining the prognosis of gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Kwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Y E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rew
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2