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Expression of reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and transforming growth factor-β1 and their correlations in gastric carcinomas

AIM: To study the expression of RECK (reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs), MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9), and TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor-β1) as well as their correlations in gastric cancer, and to investigate their roles in the carcinogenesis and and development.

METHODS: PV-9000 immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of RECK, MMP-9, and TGF-β1 in 54 samples of gastric carcinoma selected from paraffin wax-embodied specimens with complete clinicopathological data, and another 15 cases of normal gastric mucosa.

RESULTS: The expression rate of RECK in gastric cancer was low (51.9%), and reduced with the increased invasive depth and clinical stages, decreased histological differentiation and occurrence of lymphatic and long-distance metastasis (P < 0.05). The expression rate of MMP-9 in gastric cancer was high (75.9%), and elevated with the increased invasive depth and clinical stages, decreased histological differentiation, and occurrence of lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05). The expression rate of TGF-β1 in gastric cancer was also high (77.8%), and enhanced with the increased clinical stages, reduced histological differentiation and occurrence of lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05). The expression of RECK was negatively correlated with the expression of MMP-9 and TGF-β1 (r = -0.618, P < 0.001; r = -0.620, P < 0.001), while the expression of MMP-9 was positively correlated with that of TGF-β1 (r = 0.716, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: RECK is lowly expressed in gastric caner, but MMP-9 and TGF-β1 are highly expressed. RECK, MMP-9 and TGF-β1 may serve as the markers in the estimation of metastasis and dissemination of gatric cnacer.