title: [Study of the relation between MMP2, MMP9 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) in the invasion and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six cases of NPC were studied by immunohistochmical method using monocolonal antibody to MMP2 and MMP9.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was showed that there were significantly correlation between MMP2 or MMP9 and the invasion and metastasis of NPC. The positive rate of MMP2 and MMP9 were higher in NPC with cervical lymph node involvement than that of no cervical lymph node involvement. And they were lower in well differentiated NPC than poorly differentiated NPC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that MMP2 and MMP9 may play a critical role in assisting carcinoma cell to degrade basement membrane to invade surrounding tissues and to form metastatic colonies in lymph nodes.
authors.affiliation: Third Clinical College of Norman Bethune University of Medical Sciences, Changchun 130031.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness
chemical_list: D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9