Expression and significance of MMP-2 and collagen IV protein in hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To study the expression and significance of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and collagen Ⅳ protein (collagen Ⅳ) in liver tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) . Methods Forty HCC tissues were collected from the hepatic resection specieces in department of hepatic surgery in Guangdong General Hospital from Janaury 2005 to December 2007 and stained by immunohistochemistry to observe the expression of MMP-2 and collagen Ⅳ. Five normal liver tissues were obtained by autopsy as control. Local ethical committee approval had been received and that the informed concent of all participating subjects was obtained. The relationship between MMP-2, collagen Ⅳ expression and clinicopathologic features of HCC such as microvascular invasion, tumor diameter, tumor differentiation degree, recurrence was analyzed by test of Spearman’s rank-correlation coefficient. Results The positive expression of MMP-2 and collagen Ⅳ in HCC tissues were 29 cases(73%) and 38 cases(95%) respectively. The MMP-2 expression was negative in normal liver tissues, while the expression of collagen Ⅳ was observed in 3 samples among 5 tested normal liver tissues. The expressions of MMP-2 and collagen Ⅳ were related to the recurrence of HCC (all in P<0.05) . The positive expression rate of MMP-2 and collagen Ⅳ in HCC was markedly related to the microvascular invasion (all in P<0.05) . Conclusions The expressions of MMP-2 and collagen Ⅳ are positive in HCC tissues and may relate to the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Microvascular invasion; Matrix metalloproteinase-2; Collagen Ⅳ protein; Immunohistochemistry