Background: To determine the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and their prognostic value.
Methods: The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected in 62 NSCLC tissues by immunohistochemical method , and 28 normal lung tissues and 32 para-cancerous dysplastic lung tissues as control.
Results: The expression levels of MMP-2 (77. 4 % ,48/ 62) and MMP-9 (80. 6 % ,50/ 62) in the NSCLC tissues were significantly higher than those in the control groups ( P < 0. 005 , P < 0. 005) . The positive rates of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma were remarkably higher than those in squamous cell carcinoma ( P < 0. 005 , P < 0. 05) , were much higher in stage III+IV group than those in stage I+II group ( P < 0. 025 , P < 0. 05) , and were significantly higher in tumors with lymph node metastasis than those without lymphatic metastasis ( P < 0. 005 , P < 0. 05) . The patients surviving for 1 and 3 year had much higher MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression rates than those surviving for over 5 year ( P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 005) .
Conclusions: MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in NSCLC tissues might be indicators of tumor behavior.