MMP-9和VEGF阳性表达与中晚期宫颈癌同步放化疗敏感性的关系

目的 探讨基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP-9)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)与中晚期宫颈癌患者同步放化疗敏感性的关系.方法 选择60例中晚期宫颈癌患者,均行常规同步放化疗,应用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测患者术后宫颈癌组织中MMP-9和VEGF的表达水平,分析两者的表达与放化疗疗效的关系.结果 60例患者中,41例患者MMP-9表达阳性,放化疗有效率为61.0%(25/41);19例患者MMP-9表达阴性,放化疗有效率为94.7%(18/19),差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.05).46例患者VEGF表达阳性,放化疗有效率为63.0%(29/46);14例患者VEGF表达阴性,放化疗有效率为100.0%(14/14),差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.05).MMP-9和VEGF共同阳性表达患者35例,放化疗有效率为54.3%(19/35);共同阴性表达患者8例,放化疗有效率为100.0%(8/8),MMP-9和VEGF共同阴性表达患者的放化疗有效率高于共同阳性表达患者(P﹤0.05).结论 MMP-9和VEGF阳性表达与中晚期宫颈癌同步放化疗的敏感性关系密切,MMP-9和VEGF共同阳性表达患者的放化疗疗效差.     

HER-2、MMP-2、IGF-1和VEGF在宫颈癌组织中的表达及意义

目的： 探讨与肿瘤生长浸润和转移相关的表皮生长因子受体(HER-2)、基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)、胰岛素样生长因子-1(IGF-1)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)在新疆维吾尔族妇女宫颈癌组织中的表达及意义。方法：收集维吾尔族妇女浸润性宫颈鳞癌患者的宫颈癌组织38例,并收集正常宫颈组织32例作为正常对照。分别运用实时荧光定量PCR(Q-PCR)和蛋白免疫印迹(Western blot)技术检测HER-2、MMP-2、IGF-1和VEGF在不同宫颈组织中的mRNA及蛋白表达水平。结果：Q-PCR检测结果显示,与正常对照组相比,HER-2、IGF-1、MMP-2和VEGF的mRNA表达水平在宫颈组织中均有不同程度的升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01)。Western blot检测显示HER-2、MMP-2和VEGF蛋白表达水平在宫颈癌组中的表达亦均较正常对照组有不同程度的升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01),而IGF-1在两组之间的表达差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论：HER-2、MMP-2、IGF-1和VEGF在维吾尔族妇女宫颈癌组织中的过度表达可能与宫颈癌的发生密切相关。     

VEGF、COX-2、MMP-9在乳腺癌组织中的表达对乳腺钼靶x线征象的影响

目的探讨乳腺癌组织中血管内皮细胞生长因子（VEGF）、环氧化酶-2（COX-2）、基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）的表达对乳腺钼靶x线征象的影响,并初步探讨乳腺钼靶x线征象与分子病理学之间的关系。方法收集经乳腺钼靶X线检查、手术和病理证实的乳腺癌患者69例,将乳腺钼靶x线征象分为毛刺征、钙化征、异常血管征、淋巴结转移征,分析VEGF、COX-2、MMP-9表达对以上征象的影响。结果乳腺钼靶x线征象有毛刺征组VEGF、COX-2、MMP-9阳性表达率明显高于无毛刺征组（P〈0．05）;钙化组与无钙化组VEGF、COX-2、MMP-9阳性表达率差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;有异常血管征组VEGF、COX-2、MMP-9阳性表达率明显高于无异常血管征组（P〈0．05）;有淋巴结转移征组VEGF、COX-2、MMP-9阳性表达率明显高于无淋巴结转移征组（P〈0．05）。结论VEGF、COX-2、MMP-9高表达对乳腺钼钯x线征象毛刺征、异常血管征、淋巴结转移征的出现存在影响,并可作为乳腺钼钯X线恶性征象的生物学基础。     

基质金属蛋白酶MMP-2、9及其抑制因子TIMP-1、2在子宫颈鳞癌中表达的研究

背景与目的：肿瘤的浸润与转移的关键问题是细胞外基质（extracellular matrix,ECM)成分的降解,基质金属蛋白酶（matrix metalloproteinases,MMPs)能降解ECM,用MMPs的活性与金属蛋白酶组织抑制剂（tissueinhibitor of metalloproteinase,TIMPs)有关。本研究拟通过观察MMP－2和MMP－9及其抑制因子TIMP－1和TIMP－2在子宫颈鳞癌组织中的表达情况,探讨其与子宫颈鳞癌的浸润及转移的关系。方法：采用免疫组织化学方法对40例子宫颈鳞癌,29例子宫颈上皮内瘤样病变（cervical intraepithelial neoplasia,CIN)和16例正常子宫颈组织进行标记及分析。结果：MMP－2、MMP－9、TIMP－1、TIMP－2在子宫颈鳞癌、CIN、正常宫颈组织细胞浆中的阳性表达率分别为82．5％、70．0％、62．5％、97．5％、44．8％、61．1％、62．1％、86．21％、96．55％、25．0％、25．0％、25．0％、56．25％。MMP－2的鳞癌组与CIN组及正常组相比有显著性差异(P＜0．01）。MMP－9的正常组与鳞癌组及CIN组相比差异有显著意义（P＜0．05）。TIMP－1和TIMP－2的正常组与鳞癌组及CIN组相比差异有显著意义（P＜0．01）。MMP－2、MMP－9在淋巴结转移阳性组较阴性组的阳性表达率明显高（P＜0．01）、TIMP－2在淋巴结转移阴性组的阳性表达率较阳性组明显高（P＜0．01）,而IMP－1没有发现此现象。MMP－2、MMP－9和TIMP－1、TIMP－2的阳性表达率与肿瘤大小、临床分期和病理分化程度均无明显相关性。MMP－2、MMP－9和TIMP－1、TIMP－2在子宫颈鳞癌组织中的表达与正常宫颈组织相比差异均有显著性。结论：MMP－2、MMP－9的表达水平的明显上调和TIMP－1、TIMP－2相对弱表达在子宫颈鳞癌浸润和淋巴转移中起重要的作用。     

胃癌组织中COX-2和VEGF表达及其相关性研究

目的探讨环氧合酶2(cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2)和血管内皮生长因子(vascularendothelial growthfactor,VEGF)在人胃癌组织中表达及其相关性。方法应用免疫组织化学SABC法检测53例人胃癌组织中COX-2、VEGF和CD34的表达,并以40例正常胃粘膜标本作为对照。对CD34阳性血管进行微血管密度(microvesseldensity,MVD)计数。对COX-2和VEGF的表达采用半定量计分法判定,并结合临床资料进行统计学分析。结果53例人胃癌组织中,COX-2表达阳性者44例,阳性率为83.0%;VEGF表达阳性者45例,阳性率为84.9%。COX-2表达与VEGF表达相关显著(P<0.05)。并且,COX-2和VEGF的表达与TNM分期(P<0.05,P<0.05)、淋巴结转移(P<0.01,P<0.05)和远处转移(P<0.01,P<0.05)相关。COX-2/VEGF同高表达组中MVD值(79.5±25.8)高于COX-2/VEGF同低表达组中的MVD值(45.0±13.9),差异非常显著(P<0.01)。结论胃癌组织中COX-2与VEGF共表达,并相互协同促进肿瘤血管生成和转移。     

EGFR、VEGF和COX-2在非小细胞肺癌中的表达和意义

目的探讨EGFR、VEGF和COX-2这三种与肿瘤血管生成相关的蛋白在非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）中的表达及其与临床病理特征的关系。方法选取73例青年NSCLC标本和65例老年NSCLC标本,与10例肺良性肿瘤组织及10例正常肺组织标本一起制作成组织芯片,应用免疫组化S-P法检测EGFR、VEGF和COX-2的表达,并与临床参数进行比较分析。结果EGFR、VEGF和COX-2在NSCLC标本中的阳性表达率分别为51.4%、73.2%和44.9%。10例肺良性肿瘤组织中有2例VEGF阳性,2例COX-2阳性;而10例正常肺组织中三者表达均为阴性。EGFR阳性表达在男性、吸烟者、鳞癌和无淋巴结转移患者中明显升高（P〈0.05）,VEGF表达与各种临床病理特征均无关（P〉0.05）,COX-2阳性表达在腺癌患者中明显升高（P=0.000）。三者表达与年龄分组均无关。EGFR和VEGF呈正相关关系（r=0.198,P=0.02）。结论EGFR、VEGF和COX-2在NSCLC中表达升高,在青年和老年肺癌标本中表达无差异;EGFR和VEGF在NSCLC肿瘤血管形成过程中可能起协同作用。     

环氧化酶-2在乳腺癌中高表达的临床意义

[目的]探讨环氧化酶-2（COX-2）在乳腺癌组织中的表达及其与临床病理因素和预后的相关性。[方法]应用免疫组织化学方法检测60例乳腺癌石蜡包埋组织中COX-2、HER-2／neu和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的表达。[结果]60例乳腺癌组织中COX-2的高表达率为383％（23／60）。在淋巴结转移阳性组和阴性组以及不同临床分期病人COX-2的表达差异有显著性（P〈0．05）；COX-2的表达与HER-2／neu、VEGF表达密切相关（P〈0．01）。COX-2和HER-2／neu共同表达的患者TNM分期较晚．COX-2低表达的患者总生存期较长，与高表达患者的总生存期有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。[结论]乳腺癌组织中COX-2的高表达可提示乳腺癌恶性程度高和预后不良．COX-2和HER-2／neu同时高表达预后更差．     

库肯勃瘤中CD44v6﹑VEGF﹑MMP-2﹑MMP-9的表达及相关性研究

目的:探讨CD44v6、VEGF、MMP-2、MMP-9在库肯勃瘤及卵巢原发上皮癌中的表达及相关性。方法:应用免疫组化SP法检测CD44v6、VEGF、MMP-2、MMP-9在20例正常卵巢组织、38例库肯勃瘤、45例卵巢原发上皮癌中的表达情况。结果:CD44v6、VEGF在卵巢原发上皮癌和库肯勃瘤组织中的表达显著高于正常卵巢组织(P<0.05);MMP-2﹑MMP-9在正常卵巢组织中表达缺如;CD44v6、VEGF、MMP-2、MMP-9在库肯勃中阳性表达率明显高于卵巢原发上皮癌(P<0.05)。CD44v6、VEGF、MMP-2、MMP-9在卵巢原发上皮性癌、库肯勃瘤中,任意两指标阳性表达均有正相关性(P<0.05)。结论:CD44v6、VEGF、MMP-2、MMP-9均参与卵巢癌、胃癌、库肯勃瘤的发生、发展及演进过程,并可为卵巢上皮癌、胃癌及库肯勃瘤的鉴别诊断提供一定依据。     

MMP-9,2,7及其抑制剂TIMP-1,2,3在卵巢肿瘤组织中的表达及临床意义

背景与目的:基质金属蛋白酶(matrixmetalloproteinases,MMPs)通过降解细胞外基质在肿瘤的侵袭与转移中起着重要作用,MMPs活性又受到其抑制剂(tissueinhibitorofmatrixmetalloproteinase,TIMPs)的调节。本研究通过检测MMP-9、MMP-2、MMP-7及TIMP-1、TIMP-2、TIMP-3mRNA在卵巢肿瘤组织中的表达,探讨其与卵巢癌临床病理特征和预后的关系。方法:应用RT-PCR方法检测48例卵巢癌、21例良性肿瘤及22例正常卵巢组织中MMP-9、MMP-2、MMP-7及TIMP-1、TIMP-2、TIMP-3mRNA的表达。结果:MMP-9阳性率和MMP-9、MMP-2半定量值在卵巢癌组织中明显高于正常卵巢组织(P<0.05)。TIMP-2、MMP-7、TIMP-3在卵巢恶性及良性肿瘤组织中的阳性率及半定量值明显高于正常卵巢组织。MMP-9/TIMP-1在卵巢癌组织中的比值(0.91±0.67)明显高于正常卵巢组织(0.15±0.34)。MMP-9表达水平与卵巢癌的手术病理分期及预后有关,在Ⅲ～Ⅳ期患者中的表达(1.13±0.66)显著高于Ⅰ～Ⅱ期患者(0.60±0.54)(P<0.05);MMP-9其阳性患者平均生存时间为(43.00±17.12)个月,累积生存率为47.37%,明显低于MMP-9阴性者(100%)。结论:MMP-9、MMP-2、MMP-7、TIMP-2、TIMP-3基因在卵巢恶性肿瘤组织中的表达增加。MMP-9的高表达及MMP-9与TIMP-1的平衡失调在晚期卵巢癌的发     

Suppression of carbonyl reductase expression enhances malignant behaviour in uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma: carbonyl reductase predicts prognosis and lymph node metastasis

Carbonyl reductase (CR) is an NADPH-dependent, mostly monomeric, cytosolic enzyme with broad substrate specificity for carbonyl compounds. CR appears to be involved in the regulation of tumour progression. However, molecular mechanisms of CR in tumour progression and clinical significance of CR status remain unclear in human uterine squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Here, we investigated the clinical significance of CR using immunohistochemical analyses of human uterine cervical SCC tissues and how CR affects cancer cell behaviour in vitro. Paraffin sections from uterine cervical SCC tissues, FIGO stage Ib1-IIb (n = 67) were immunostained with anti-CR antibodies. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Sense and antisense CR cDNAs were transfected into a human uterine SCC cell line (SiHa) to investigate the role of CR in cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that reduced CR expression patterns in primary cancer lesions were closely associated with a high incidence of pelvic lymph node metastasis, poor OS, and poor PFS. In an in vitro experiment, suppression of CR increased cancer cell invasion, secretion of MMP-2, -9 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and decreased E-cadherin expression. On the other hand, over-expression of CR increased E-cadherin expression and decreased MMP-2, -9 secretion and COX-2 expression. The reduced CR expression pattern, as measured by immunohistochemistry, can be a useful predictor of lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with uterine SCC. This clinical result is supported by the in vitro data which show that suppression of CR expression promotes cancer cell invasion with decreased E-cadherin expression and increased MMP-2, -9 secretion.     

Expression of c-erbB receptors, MMPs and VEGF in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are characterized by a marked propensity for local invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-erbB-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in tumor samples of 91 HNSCC patients, and to study a possible correlation to various clinico-pathologic parameters. The expression of EGFR, c-erbB-2, VEGF, MMP-2, -3 and -9 was analyzed in the same paraffin embedded tissue by semi-quantitative immunohistochemical staining. High expression of EGFR, c-erbB-2, MMP-2 or -9 was associated with advanced clinical stages, nodal metastases and tumor-stages. However, high expression of VEGF or MMP-3 was not associated with any clinico-pathologic parameters except significant correlation between VEGF and the tumor site. There were significant correlations between EGFR, c-erbB-2, MMP-2 and -9 in HNSCC patients. Conversely, no correlation was found between VEGF or MMP-3 and the other markers. However, significant correlation was found between MMP-3 or -9 and VEGF. The results indicate that the expression of EGFR, c-erbB-2, VEGF or MMPs play an important role in tumor growth, invasion and metastasis in HNSCC. The authors conclude that EGFR, c-erbB-2, MMP-2 and -9 could be good independent prognostic markers, but not VEGF and MMP-3.     

COX-2 iNOS及VEGF在胃不典型增生胃癌中的表达及其意义

目的:探讨COX-2、iNOS及VEGF在胃不典型增生及胃癌中的表达、相互关系及在胃癌中的作用.方法:采用免疫组化Power visionTM两步法对84例胃癌和54例胃不典型增生组织中COX-2、iNOS及VEGF的表达进行检测.结果:COX-2、iNOS及VECF在胃癌中表达的阳性率分别为66.67%、77.38%、61.90%,均高于胃不典型增生组织(P＜0.05).COX-2、iNOS及VEGF表达与肿瘤的大小、淋巴结转移呈正相关,COX-2、VEGF表达与肿瘤浸润深度呈正相关,VEGF与COX-2、iNOS的表达呈正相关(P＜0.05).结论:COX-2、iNOS及VEGF与胃癌的发生、浸润转移相关,COX-2、iNOS通过增强VEGF的表达而促进肿瘤血管生成及转移.     

环氧合酶-2和基质金属蛋白酶-9在宫颈癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的研究环氧合酶-2(COX-2)和基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)在宫颈癌组织中的表达及临床意义。方法采用免疫组化S-P法检测72例宫颈浸润癌(ICC)、16例癌旁正常宫颈上皮(NCE)组织中COX-2和MMP-9的表达,并分析COX-2和MMP-9表达与ICC病理分级、临床分期、间质浸润和淋巴结转移等临床病理特征的关系。结果ICC组织中COX-2和MMP-9的表达显著高于NCE组织,72例ICC中,COX-2阳性表达率为88.9%,MMP-9阳性表达率为94.4%;16例NCE组织中,COX-2阳性表达率为12.5%,MMP-9阳性表达率为43.8%,两组间差异均有统计学意义(P< 0.01)。COX-2表达与ICC的淋巴结转移和间质浸润深度呈正相关(r分别为0.296和0.257)。MMP-9的表达与ICC的临床分期、病理分级呈正相关(r分别为0.329和0.351)。COX-2和MMP-9在宫颈癌组织中的表达强度呈正相关(r=0.297),二者表达的一致率高达86.1%(62/72)。结论COX-2和MMP-9的高表达与宫颈癌的侵袭和发展有关,二者在宫颈癌的细胞增殖、浸润和转移中有协同作用,联合检测二者的表达对于进一步理解宫颈癌的生物学行为和判断预后有一定价值。     

环氧合酶-2和基质金属蛋白酶-9在宫颈癌中的表达及其临床意义

Objective： To investigate the expressions of cyclooxygenase （COX）-2 and matrix metalloproteinase （MMP）-9 in cervical carcinoma and their clinical significance. Methods： Immunohistochemistry SP method was used to detect the expressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 in 72 cases of invasive carcinoma of cervix （ICC） and 16 cases of normal cervical epithelium remote from tumor （NCE）. The relationships between the expressions of COX-2, MMP-9 in ICC and some characteristics relating to clinical pathology of cervical carcinoma such as histological grading, lymph node metastasis, stromal invasion and FIGO stage were analyzed statistically. Results： The rates of the positive expressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 in ICC were significantly higher than those in NCE. COX-2： 88.9% （64/72）in group ICC and 12.5% （2/16）in group NCE, P = 0.000; MMP-9： 94.4% （68/72） in group ICC and 43.8% （7/16） in group NCE, P = 0.000. The expression of COX-2 was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis （r= 0.296, P = 0.012） and stromal invasion （r = 0.257, P = 0.029）. The expression of MMP-9 was positively correlated with FIGO stage （r = 0.329, P = 0.005） and histological grading （r = 0.351, P = 0.003）. The expression of COX-2 was positively correlated with the expression of MMP-9 in ICC （r=0.297, P = 0.011）. Conclusion： The overexpressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 were closely related to the invasion and growth of cervical carcinoma. The tissue with the overexpression of COX-2 had strong invasion ability. COX-2 and MMP-9 had synergistic effect on proliferation, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Detecting the coexpression of COX-2 and MMP-9 may be of value in further understanding the biological behavior and predicting the prognosis of cervical carcinoma.     

Study on the Difference in Expression of VEGF and bFGF and their Receptors in Young and Postmenopausal Women with Breast Cancer

Objective To study the difference in expression of VEGF and bFGF and their receptors in young and postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Methods Immunohistochemical methods (SABC) were used to study the expression of VEGF, FLK-1, bFGF and FLG on paraffin-embedded sections from 40 cases of young and 30 cases of postmenopausal women with breast cancer, The relationship between axillary lymph node metastasis and the expression of the growth factors and their receptors was studied. Results The mean expression of VEGF and bFGF and the positive rate of axillary lymph nodes in the young group were higher than that in the postmenopausal group (P< 0.01 or P< 0.05 ); the mean values of VEGF, bFGF, FLK-1 and FLG in cases of axillary lymph node metastasis were higher in patients without axillary lymph node metastasis in each group (P< 0.05 orP< 0.01); there was a significant difference between the mean expression of VEGF, bFGF, FLK-1 and FLG in cases of stage 0 ∼II comparaed to cases of stage III∼IV (P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). Conclusion The tumor vasculature is directly related to the high breast cancer aggressiveness in young women, a characteristic that might be due to the high expression of VEGF and bFGF.     

The Analysis of High-Risk Molecular Markers for Cervical Cancer Patients under Thirty-Five

OBJECTIVE To explore molecular markers for cervical cancer in female patients below thirty-five years of age, so that the markers may be used to formulate a prognosis and to provide some useful targets for improving therapy. METHODS Pathological data were collected from 64 cervical cancer patients under the age of 35 from June, 1995 to June, 2000 in our institution. The data were retrospectively analyzed as a study group, and compared to data obtained from 90 cervical cancer cases over the age of 35 as controls who underwent treatment during the same time period. Immuno-histochemical and quantified image analyses were conducted to look for differences between the two groups in expression of survivin, p27, CD44v6, MMP-2 and TIMP-2. RESULTS The overall 5-year survival rate (65.6%) of the study group was significantly lower (P<0.05) compared to the control group (84.4%). The expression of survivin, MMP -2 and CD44v6 was much higher in the younger study group compared to the older control group, but TIMP-2 displayed higher expression in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in p27 expression between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Young women patients with cervical cancer have a poorer prognosis compared to old women. Our study reveals that survivin, MMP-2, TIMP-2 and CD44v6 expression have a correlation with shorter 5-year survival. Improvement in the prognosis for young cervical cancer patients can be expected using biomedical therapy which targets these molecular markers.     

CT增强时间密度曲线与肺癌血管生成关系的研究

背景与目的 新生血管形成与肿瘤细胞无限增殖密切相关.本研究的目的是分析肺癌组织中环氧化酶-2(COX-2)、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)表达,微血管密度(MVD)与CT增强表现的相关性.方法 对经病理证实的25例肺癌及35例肺良性疾病患者行CT增强扫描,并应用PV法对病理标本进行免疫组化分析.结果 肺癌组COX-2(P＜0.05)、VEGF(P＜0.05)、MVD(P＜0.05)及CT强化峰值(P＜0.01)均明显高于肺良性肿瘤组.肺癌组织中COX-2、VEGF、MVD与组织学类型、临床分期、淋巴结转移及CT强化峰值之间有密切关系,与肺癌的分化程度无明显关系.结论 COX-2、VEGF、MVD可作为临床评价肿瘤发展、估计肿瘤预后的重要分子生物学指征.CT增强检查可以反映肺癌的血供特点,可根据CT增强峰值来推测肿瘤的侵袭、转移及预后情况.     

Association between cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression in non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) contributes to invasiveness of cancer through activation of several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is a proteolytic enzyme that degrades the extracellular matrix, and has been linked to invasion and metastasis. This study aims to assess the correlation of the COX-2 expression and the MMP-2 expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We analyzed the protein expressions of COX-2 and MMP-2 by immunohistochemical staining on the tissue array specimens from 204 patients with completely resected NSCLC. A <10% immunostaining of the cancer cells was considered negative, while >10% was considered positive. RESULTS: The COX-2 expression was positive in 68.1% and that of the MMP-2 was positive in 45.6%. The positive expression rate of MMP-2 (52.5%) in the positive COX-2 group was higher than that in the negative COX-2 group (30.8%, P = 0.004). Furthermore, the MMP-2 expression was associated with lymph node involvement, the tumor stage and the histological type. The patients with a positive MMP-2 expression showed a reduced survival (P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: The COX-2 expression is associated with the MMP-2 expression in NSCLC patients: the latter may also be associated with tumor progression and reduced survival in NSCLC patients.