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MMP-1 and MMP-2 expression in uterine leiomyosarcoma and correlation with different clinicopathologic parameters
B Bodner-Adler1, K Bodner, O Kimberger
1Department Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria.
Objective:
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been suggested to play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis because they degrade a wide range of components of the extracellular matrix. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-2 proteins in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma.
Methods:
MMP-1 and MMP-2 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry from paraffin-embedded tissue sections in 21 patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS). The immunohistochemical findings were correlated with different clinicopathologic characteristics of the patients.
Results:
MMP-1 was expressed in 86% and MMP-2 was expressed in 48% of uterine LMS. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between vascular space involvement and MMP-2 expression (P =.05) and between age and MMP-2 expression, with patients over 50 years old having significantly more frequent MMP-2-positive tumors than patients younger than 50 years (P =.006). The relationship between MMP-2 expression and tumor stage and recurrence disease did not reach statistical significance. A trend towards prolonged disease-free survival was observed in women with MMP-2-negative LMS compared with patients with MMP-2-positive LMS (P =.09). Furthermore, a univariate analysis revealed that early tumor stage (P =.0001), age at diagnosis less than 50 years (P =.02), and the absence of vascular space involvement (P =.04) were associated with longer overall survival.
Conclusion:
The statistically significant positive correlation between MMP-2 expression and vascular space involvement as well as the prolonged disease-free survival rate in patients with MMP-2 negative uterine LMS suggest that MMP-2 plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Further clinical studies with larger numbers of cases need to be performed to verify these findings.
Insights
Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression in uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) correlates with tumor spread. MMP-2 negative LMS showed a trend towards better disease-free survival, suggesting its role in metastasis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes involved in extracellular matrix degradation.
- MMPs are implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis.
- Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare uterine malignancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-2 proteins in uterine LMS.
- To correlate MMP expression with clinicopathologic characteristics of LMS patients.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to detect MMP-1 and MMP-2 expression in 21 paraffin-embedded LMS tissue sections.
- Clinicopathologic data were analyzed and correlated with MMP expression levels.
Main Results:
- MMP-1 was expressed in 86% and MMP-2 in 48% of uterine LMS cases.
- MMP-2 expression showed a significant positive correlation with vascular space involvement and older patient age (>50 years).
- MMP-2 negative LMS showed a trend towards prolonged disease-free survival (P=0.09).
Conclusions:
- MMP-2 expression is significantly associated with vascular space involvement in uterine LMS.
- The findings suggest MMP-2 plays a role in uterine LMS invasion and metastasis.
- Larger studies are needed to confirm these results and their clinical implications.
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