.83 Patients With Borderline Ovarian Epithelial Tumors, Clinical And Pathological Analysis

Objective To explore the expression and role of MMP2, MMP9,TIMP1 and TIMP2 in the benign,borderline and invasive epithelial ovarian neoplasms. Methods Sections from 132 formalin-fixed,paraffin-embedded blocks were studied using immunohistochernistry technique,including 67 ovarian carcinoma,40 borderline tumors, 18 benign ovarian tumors and 7 normal ovaries.Results Immunohistochernistry studies revealed a diffused granular distribution of MMP2,MMP9,TIMP1 and TIMP2 in the cytoplasm of epithelial ovarian neoplasms. With malignance of epithelial ovarian tumor increased,expressions of them enhanced as well as in mixed,mucous and serous epithelial tumors.Moreover they were all found to be significantly higher in patients with lymphanodes involved than in those without any lymphanode involved. We also observed the immunostainings of MMP2 and TIMP2 in serous and mixed epithelial ovarian tumorswere stronger than in mucous tumors(P<0.05).The molar ratios of MMP9/TIMP1 and MMP2/TIMP2 were higher in ovarian tumors than in normal ovaries. Spearman analysis showed obvious correlations between MMP2 and TIMP2,MMP9 and TIMP1.Conclusions Tissue remodeling and normal physiological processes depend on the controlled and concerted activity of these extracellular enzymes and their natural inhibitors.There are specific affinities for MMPs to TIMPs.The findings suggest that these matriolytic enzymes,together with their inhibitors,play pivotal roles in progression ,invasion and metastasis in epithelial ovarian tumors.