title: [Expression of PTEN, matrix metaloproteinases 2 and 9 in thymomas].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression of PTEN, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in thymomas and their correlation with clinical significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical S-P assay was used to detect the expression of PTEN, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in 45 thymomas and 16 non-neoplastic thymuses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive rate of PTEN, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in 45 thymomas were 53.5%, 48.9% and 62.2%, respectively. There were significant differences between non-neoplastic thymus and thymomas (P < 0.05). The expression of PTEN, MMP-2 correlated with histological type (P < 0.05) and different clinical stage of the thymoma (P < 0.01). The expression of MMP-9 was not correlated with histological type and different clinical stages of thymoma (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTEN, MMP-2 and MMP-9 may play an important role in the occurrence and development of thymoma. The expression of PTEN and MMP-2 correlates with the malignance and the aggression of thymoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450014, China. Chest@163.com
authors.forename: Zhuang-shi
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Dong-hong
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yan-he
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Wan-li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D013945:Thymoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9