title: Changes of histology and expression of MMP-2 and nm23-H1 in primary and metastatic gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the changes of histology and expression of MMP-2 and nm23-H1 in primary and metastatic gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seventy-seven gastric cancer patients with lymph node and/or distal metastasis between 1997 and 2001 were reviewed. Differences in histology of the primary and metastatic gastric cancer were assessed. MMP-2 and nm23-H1 immunoreactivity was compared in 44 patients with tumor infiltration to the serosa layer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Poorly and moderately differentiated metastatic gastric cancer was found in 88.7% (157/177) and primary gastric cancer in 75.7% (134/177) of the patients. The histological type of metastatic gastric cancer that was not completely in accordance with the preponderant histology of primary gastric cancer was observed in 25 patients (14.1%). MMP-2 immunoreactivity in metastatic gastric cancer was significantly stronger than that in primary gastric cancer, while nm23-H1 immunoreactivity showed no difference in primary and metastatic gastric cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metastatic gastric cancer presents more aggressive histological morphology and higher MMP-2 immunoreactivity than primary gastric cancer. This heterogeneity may elicit a possible mechanism of gastric cancer metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhi-Nong
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Miao-Ying
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Chao-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wen-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2