Expression of MMPª²9 and TIMPª²1 in serous ovarian tumors and its clinical significance

    GUO Ying, LIU Jun, WU Jing, SONG Tianª²Bao, LIU Ningª²Xia

    1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Second Hospital, Xi¡¯an Jiaotong University, Xi¡¯an 710004, China, 2Department of Pathogenic Organisms, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¡¯an 710033, China, 3Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Xi¡¯an Jiaotong University, Xi¡¯an 710061, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To study the expression of matrix metalloproteinaseª²9 (MMPª²9) and tissue specific inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinasesª²1 (TIMPª²1) in serous ovarian tumors. METHODS: Expression of MMPª²9 and TIMPª²1 in 6 normal ovaries, 12 serous cystadenomas of ovary, 6 borderline cystadenomas of ovary, and 22 serous cystadenocarcinomas of ovary were studied by immunohistochemical SP staining. RESULTS: Expression of MMPª²7 was able to be detected in epithelial cells of only 1 of the normal ovaries, and expression of TIMPª²1 was able to be detected in 5 of the normal ovaries. In most serous ovarian tumors, expression of MMPª²9 and TIMPª²1 was able to be detected in tumor cells, and the expression level of MMPª²9 and TIMPª²1 was different in serous ovarian tumors of different malignancy. CONCLUSION: TIMPª²1 may have physiological function in normal ovary. MMPª²9 and TIMPª²1 play an important role in the invasion and metastasis of serous ovarian tumors. ......