title: Combination of strong MMP-2 and weak TIMP-2 immunostainings is a significant prognostic factor in endometrial carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 protein immunoreactivities on the prognosis in endometrial carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 225 primary endometrioid adenocarcinomas and 13 histologies other than endometrioid adenocarcinoma were immunohistochemically stained for MMP-2 and TIMP-2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Kaplan-Meier analysis, the 5-year cancer-specific survival rate of the endometrioid adenocarcinoma patients with negative MMP-2 and positive TIMP-2 staining was 100%, whereas only 78% of patients presenting with positive MMP-2 and negative TIMP-2 staining results were alive at that time. In Cox regression analysis, patients with positive MMP-2 and negative TIMP-2 immunostaining had a 4.7-fold relative risk of death from endometrial carcinoma compared to the group of patients with negative MMP-2 and positive or negative TIMP-2 immunoreaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-2 seems to be the main metalloproteinase determining the prognosis in endometrial carcinoma. Combination of strong MMP-2 and weak TIMP-2 immunostainings was the most potent prognostic marker for poor survival.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Honkavuori-Toivola
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santala
authors.forename: Ylermi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Soini
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Turpeenniemi-Hujanen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talvensaari-Mattila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C560823:TIMP2 protein, human; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2