title: Expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in retinoblastoma and their significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in retinoblastoma (Rb), and their relationships with tumor development stage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in 41 cases of paraffin embedded Rb samples. Quantitative analysis of the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was assessed by HMIAS-2000 Color Pathologic Analysis System. The differences of the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in each clinical and pathological stage were analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all the 41 Rb specimens, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression was found in tumor cells. The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was significantly higher in tumors with optic nerve invasion than in tumors without optic nerve invasion (P<0.05); the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was significantly higher in tumors of extra-ocular stage than in tumors of glaucomatous stage or intra-ocular stage (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-2 and MMP-9 exist in retinoblastoma cells. The level of MMP-2 and MMP-9 is related to optic nerve invasion and clinical stage of Rb, which suggests the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 could be connected to the invasion and development of tumor cells. Further research is needed for deeper understanding of the biological behavior and better evaluation of the prognosis of Rb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Suizhou Central Hospital, Suizhou 441322, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Fa-Gang
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Jiang