title: Protein expression and significance of VEGF, EGFR and MMP-9 in non-small cell lung carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to detect the protein expression of VEGF, EGFR and MMP-9, to investigate the potential roles they might play in the pathogenesis of NSCLC and to discuss their relationship and their clinical significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  For 136 cases who were diagnosed of NSCLC, immunohistochemistry was used to detect protein expression of VEGF, EGFR and MMP-9 tumour and normal lung tissue specimens. Statistical analysis was performed on the relationship between protein expression of VEGF, EGFR and MMP-9 and clinico-pathological parameters and prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of VEGF and MMMP-9 was mostly in the cytoplasm, while EGFR wasfound in both cytoplasm and membranes. In NSCLCs, the positive rate of VEGF protein was 79.4% (108/136), for EGFR was 75.0% (102/136) and for MMP-9 was 68.4% (93/136), significantly greater than the normal tissue values of 16.0% (8/50), 12.0% (6/50) and 8.0% (4/50), respectively (P<0.01). Expression of VEGF, EGFR and MMP-9 was related to pathology grading, lymph node metastasis and clinical staging in NSCLC (P<0.01), while being independent of other clinicopathologic parameters (P>0.05). There was an obvious positive correlation among the expression of VEGF and EGFR (r=0.25; P<0.01), VEGF and MMP-9 (r=0.28; P<0.01), EGFR and MMP-9 (r=0.19; P<0.05) in NSCLCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Protein expression of VEGF, EGFR and MMP-9 is elevated higher in NSCLC, correlating with progression.
authors: Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Jin
authors: Jia-Ping
authors: JP
authors: Li
authors: Lu-ying
authors: LY
authors: Tang
authors: Jian-ning
authors: JN
authors: Chen
authors: Zhi-ying
authors: ZY
authors: Feng
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Zhou
authors: Chun-kui
authors: CK
authors: Shao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9