Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) is critical for carcinoma progression. In our study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of the major MMP family such as MMPβ3, MMPβ9, MMPβ11 and MT1βMMP at the mRNA in 44 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) that were previously characterized for MMPβ7, MMPβ1 and MMPβ2, and their relation to urokinase system (uPA and uPAR). MT1βMMP, MMPβ11 and MMPβ2 expressions are closely associated with each other, while MMPβ9 and uPAR expressions are inversely associated with the former group. There is no MMP related to clinicopathological factors; however, patients with high MT1βMMP could show worse prognosis, as compared to those with low MT1βMMP expression (p=0.01), as well as MMPβ11 did (p=0.02). Both MMP showed clear expression of carcinoma cells by immunohistochemistry. In patients with high MT1βMMP, recurrence was more prominent (23/26: 88.5%) than those with low MT1βMMP (7/18: 38.9%) (p=0.0016). In the 20 cases who died within 3 years, all 15 cases with high MT1βMMP showed initial recurrence of distant metastasis, and the other 5 cases with low MT1βMMP showed locoregional recurrence (p=0.000064). These results could indicate that there is a relevant mechanism of associated expression of clinically significant MMP and that among them, MT1βMMP plays the most critical role in ESCC progression. Β© 2004 WileyβLiss, Inc.