title: Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 involving in growth, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis of gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) expression in caricinogenesis and progression of gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied MMP-7 expression and microvessel density (MVD) in adjacent mucosa and primary foci of 113 cases of gastric cancer by streptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method using anti-MMP-7 and anti-CD34 antibodies. MMP-7 expression and mean MVD were compared with clinicopathological features of gastric cancer, with the relationship between MMP-7 expression and MVD concerned in gastric cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMP-7 showed positive expression in adjacent mucosa of gastric cancer (29.20%, 33/113), less than that in gastric cancer (69.03%, 78/113). MMP-7 expression in primary foci of gastric cancer was positively correlated with tumor size, invasive depth, metastasis and TNM staging (P<0.05), but not with differentiation or growth pattern of gastric cancer (P>0.05). Positive correlation of mean MVD with tumor size, invasive depth, metastasis and TNM staging was found (P<0.05), despite no relationship between mean MVD and differentiation of gastric cancer (P>0.05). Mean MVD was dependent on MMP-7 expression in gastric cancer (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Upregulated expression of MMP-7 played an important role in carcinogenesis and progression by participating in growth, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis of gastric cancer. MMP-7 expression could be regarded as an effective and objective marker to reflect the biological behaviors of gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Lab. 4, Cancer Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001. zheng_huachuan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huachuan
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiaohan
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jinmin
authors.forename: Cao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yinchang
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7