Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2,matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothdial growth factor in retinoblastoma and its clinical significance

Abstract

To study the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in retinoblastoma (RB) and its relationship with the differentiation and optic nerve infiltration of RB. Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the protein expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF in 40 RB cases. The MMP-2, MMP-9 protein and VEGF protein expression were detected as positive in 52.5%, 57.5% and 72.5% of 40 RB cases respectively. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF was significantly higher in the undifferentiated pattern than in the rosetted pattern(p<0.05); and the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF was significantly higher in tumors with optic nerve invasion than in those without optic nerve invasion(p<0.05). In RB, the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 had a positive correlation with the expression of VEGF. In RB, high expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF is related to the invasion and metastasis of RB. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 is positively correlated with the expression of VEGF. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF may act as a biological marker for the invasion and metastasis of RB. The method may help screen and identify the cases with high risk for metastasis and to predict the prognosis of patients.