Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is a prognostic marker for patients with cervical cancer

Cervical cancer remains one of the most common malignancies in women. Previous study proved MMP-9 might be prognostic marker for multiple human malignancies. The present study was to investigate the protein expression of MMP-9 in cervical cancer and its association with clinicopathological characteristics as well as prognosis of patients. Cervical cancer specimens from 225 cases who had not received chemotherapy or radiotherapy prior to surgery were collected. Immunochemistry assays were utilized to investigate MMP-9 protein expression. Results showed that MMP-9 expression was increased in cervical cancer and associated with stromal invasion, FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis, and vascular invasion. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with cervical cancer of positive MMP-9 staining tend to have worse overall survival. In multivariate analysis stratified for known prognostic variables, MMP-9 was proved to be an independent prognostic factor. The present study confirmed that MMP-9 expression in cervical cancer was an independent prognostic factor of patients, which might be a potential diagnostic and even therapeutic target of cervical cancer.