@article {ZHENG3579, author = {HUACHUAN ZHENG and HIROYUKI TAKAHASHI and YOSHIHIRO MURAI and ZHENGGUO CUI and KAZUHIRO NOMOTO and HIDEKI NIWA and KOICHI TSUNEYAMA and YASUO TAKANO}, title = {Expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF are Closely Linked to Growth, Invasion, Metastasis and Angiogenesis of Gastric Carcinoma}, volume = {26}, number = {5A}, pages = {3579--3583}, year = {2006}, publisher = {International Institute of Anticancer Research}, abstract = {Background: Gastric carcinoma is still a major leading cause of cancer death in East Asia. Since angiogenesis is a necessary condition for invasion and metastasis, its regulation is of essential significance. Materials and Methods: Expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF were examined with microarray of gastric carcinoma tissue samples (n=249) by immunostaining. In addition, microvessel density (MVD) was assessed after labelling with the anti-CD34 antibody. Data were cross-compared with clinicopathological parameters of tumors, including PTEN expression. Results: Expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF were positively correlated with tumour size, depth of invasion, lymphatic and venous invasion, lymph node metastasis, UICC staging and MVD of gastric carcinomas (p\<0.05). VEGF expression was positively linked with levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 (p\<0.05), but negatively with PTEN (p\<0.05). The latter was also inversely associated with the MVD in gastric carcinomas (p\<0.05). Conclusion: MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF largely contribute to the angiogenesis and progression of gastric carcinomas. PTEN might inhibit the processes by down-regulating VEGF expression. These parameters should be regarded as good markers to indicate pathobiological behaviours of gastric carcinomas. Copyright{\textcopyright} 2006 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved}, issn = {0250-7005}, URL = {https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/26/5A/3579}, eprint = {https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/26/5A/3579.full.pdf}, journal = {Anticancer Research} }