[Expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer in human bladder transitional cell carcinoma]

Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) play critical roles in the process of tumorigenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis. Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) derived from cancer cell can induce stromal fibroblasts to synthesize MMPs, which advances the invasion and metastasis of cancer. This study was designed to investigate the roles of EMMPRIN in the tumorigenesis, invasion and metastasis of bladder carcinoma by detecting the expression of EMMPRIN in human normal and carcinomatous bladder tissues.

The expression of EMMPRIN was examined in 45 bladder carcinoma tissues from 45 patients and normal bladder mucosa from 9 persons by immunohistochemistry SP method. The relationship between EMMPRIN expression and clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed.

EMMPRIN protein was localized at membrane and cytoplasm of carcinomatous epithelial cell, but was not expressed in normal bladder epithelial or tumor stromal cell. The overall positive rate of EMMPRIN in 45 cases of bladder carcinoma was 73%. The positive rates of EMMPRIN in grade II, grade III and recurrent carcinomas were 84%, 85%, and 100%, respectively, significantly higher than those in grade I and non-recurrent carcinomas (14% and 56%, respectively) (P< 0.05). The intensive positive rate of EMMPRIN in lymph node metastasis group (86%) was significantly higher than that in no lymph node metastasis group (24%) (P< 0.05).

EMMPRIN was overexpressed in human bladder transitional cell carcinoma, and related to the malignant degree and recurrence. It could be a useful indicator for the assessment of potent invasion and metastasis of bladder carcinoma.