Expression of gelatinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in endometrial carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key players in the degradation of extracellular matrix and basement membranes, and are thus important in tumor invasion. Gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in particular are prognostic factors in many solid tumors. In this study the immunohistochemical expression of both COX-2 and matrix metalloproteinases has been shown for the first time in endometrium carcinoma.


METHODS
Forty-two endometrial carcinoma tissues were immunostained for MMP2 antibody (1:100, Rabbit polyclonal), MMP9 antibody (1:100, Rabbit polyclonal) and CoX2 antibody (1:100, Epitope specific rabbit antibody).


RESULTS
90.5% of the cases were positive for MMP-2 and MMP-9, and 83.3% of the cases were positive for COX-2. A statistically significant association was found between COX-2 overexpression and FIGO stage (p = 0.001). A positive correlation was also found with histological grade (p = 0.006), myometrial invasion (p = 0.033), vascular invasion (p = 0.017), and lymphatic invasion (p = 0.007). A positive correlation was found between MMP-2 overexpression and vascular and lymphatic invasion (p = 0.030 and p = 0.003, respectively). MMP-9 overexpression was also found to be correlated with vascular and lymphatic invasion (p = 0.001 and p = 0.012, respectively). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant correlation between MMP-2 and MMP-9 overexpression (p = 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that COX-2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were expressed in a high percentage of primary endometrial carcinomas and their expressions may be associated closely with parameters of tumor aggressiveness.
Karahan
N
N
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
Güney
M
M
Baspinar
S
S
Oral
B
B
Kapucuoglu
N
N
Mungan
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*
D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9