MMP-9 And TIMP-1 In Malignant Melanoma And Its Signification

Objective To investigate the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue Inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and their correlation with metastasis and prognosis in malignant melanoma.Methods Immunohistochemical streptavidin perioxidase ( S-P) method was used to detect the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue Inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in 56 malignant melanoma,20 pigmented nevus.Results The positive expression rates of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were 75.0%,73.2% in 56 malignant melanoma; The positive expression rates of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were 65.0%,55.0% in 20 pigmented nevus. There were no correlations between malignant melanoma and pigmented nevus: MMP-9(x~2=0.74, P>0.05;TIMP-1(x~2=2.26,P>0.05). The positive expression rates of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were higher as deeply invasive tissue but no significant differences(x =0.24—3.25, P>0.05). The positive expression rates of MMP-9 in malignant melanoma with non-lymph node metastasis and malignant melanoma with lymph node metastasis were 68.2%,88.0%, were significant differences (x =4.07, P<0.05). The positive expression rates of TIMP-1 were no-significant differences with lymph node metastasis (x =0.18, P>0.05).The positive expression rates of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in malignant melanoma were positiving associated (r ' s=0.2672, P<0.05).Conclusion MMP-9 and TIMP-1 are no- correlated with prognosis in malignant melanoma. MMP-9 may play important roles in tumour invasion and metastasis,their over expression could act as a reference to evaluate lymph node metastasis. MMP-9 / TIMP-1 is related with the metastasis in malignant melanoma.