Immunohistochemical Detection of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2/Type IV Collagenase in Esophageal Carcinoma

Ichiro Shima, Kakegawa Teruo, Hideaki Yamana, Hiromasa Fujita, Yasuyuki Sasaguri*, Minoru Morimatsu*

The First Department of Surgery and The Second Department of Pathology*, Kurume University School of Medicine

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a gene family of zinc enzymes capable of degrading almost all the extracellular matrix macromolecules in vitro. In particular, MMP-2/type IV collagenase (MMP-2) is believed to be responsible for tumor invasion and metastasis. The expression of MMP-2 in 89 esophageal carcinoma samples was investigated by immunohistochemical staining (ABC method), which was performed on surgical specimens by using a monospecific polyclonal antibody against human proMMP-2. Also the relationship between MMP-2 expression and clinico-pathological factors was examined. Twenty-eight tumors (31.8%) showed significant immunoreactivity, as defined by cytoplasmic positivity, and the immunoreactivity of MMP-2 was detected mainly in small cancer nests of the deeply invasive and/or marginal portion of the tumor. However, no immunoreactivity was observed in normal esophageal epithelium. Good correlation between MMP-2 expression and depth of tumor invasion (p<0.01), vascular invasion (p<0.01), mode of invasion (p<0.05), and post-operative recurrence (p<0.05) was observed. These results suggest that MMP-2 may be associated with tumor invasion and vascular invasion of esophageal carcinoma through destruction of basement membranes and extracellular matrix components, and may be useful for evaluation of malignant potential in esophageal carcinoma.

Key words
esophageal cancer, matrix metalloproteinase-2, type IV collagenase, extracellular matrix, metastasis

Reprint requests
Ichiro Shima The First Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine
67 Asahi-machi, Kurume-shi, 830 JAPAN

Accepted
September 9, 1992

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