Differential expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer

In a comprehensive immunohistochemical study of the expression of ten metal loproteinases (MMPs) and their four inhibitors (TIMPs) in 115 non-small cel l lung carcinomas (NSCLCs),the findings have been correlated with the histo logical and clinical features of the tumours, AII MMPs and TIMPs were expre ssed in tumours, with frequencies ranging from 41% for MMP-2 to 68% for MMP -13, Stromal immunoreactivity ranged from 6% for TIMP-4 to 87% for MMP-13, In some tumours, an overexpression of these proteins, as revealed by strong er staining in cancer cells than in adjacent normal bronchial epithelium, w as also observed, The frequency ranged from 1% for MMP-3 to 28% for MMP-13. Compared with squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC), adenocarcinoma (AdC) more fr equently overexpressed MMP-1, -11, -13, -14, and TIMP-2, and TIMP-1 and/or TIMP-2 overexpression positively correlated with more advanced stage diseas e. None of the MMP or TIMP expression correlated with the ras genotype of t he tumours,The higher frequency of MMP overexpression in AdC than in SqCC m ay relate to the greater tendency of the former for systemic metastasis, Th e association of TIMP-1 overexpression with more advanced disease may sugge st a role in prognosis. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.