Original Article
Mod Pathol 2003;16(3):198–205
Prognostic Significance of Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase 2 Expression in Prostate Cancer
Presented in part at the 90th annual meeting of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, March 2001, Atlanta, Georgia.
Jeffrey S Ross M.D.1, Prabhjot Kaur M.D.1, Christine E Sheehan B.S1, Hugh A G Fisher M.D.2, Ronald A Kaufman Jr M.D.2 and Bhaskar V S Kallakury M.D.1
- 1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York
- 2Department of Surgery, Urology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York
Correspondence: Jeffrey S. Ross, M.D., Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Albany Medical College, Mail Code 81, 47 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208; fax: (518) 262-3663; e-mail: rossj@mail.amc.edu
Accepted 6 January 2002.
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading the structural support network for normal and malignant cells, promoting neoplastic cell invasion and metastasis. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) maintain connective tissue integrity by modulating MMP activity. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 138 prostatic adenocarcinomas (PACs) were immunostained by a combined automated/manual method using monoclonal antibodies against MMP2 and TIMP2. Immunoreactivity was semiquantitatively scored based on stain intensity and distribution, and results were correlated with Gleason grade, pathologic stage, ploidy status, and disease recurrence. One hundred five of 138 (76%) and 113/138 (82%) PACs expressed MMP2 and TIMP2, respectively. Co-expression was observed in 94/138 (68%) of PACs (P = .01), correlated with advanced tumor stage (P = .05), and tended to be associated with disease recurrent cases (P = .07). TIMP2 expression individually correlated with advanced tumor stage (P = .04) and reached near significance with disease recurrence (P = .06). MMP2 expression was also more frequent in recurrent PACs, although this value did not reach statistical significance (P = .07). However, on multivariate analysis, only pathologic stage (P = .009) and ploidy status (P = .03) independently predicted disease recurrence. In conclusion, MMP2 and TIMP2 are co-expressed in a majority of PACs and correlate with prognostic variables. Interestingly, contrary to the previously documented anti-tumor effects of TIMPs, TIMP2 expression appears to have a tumor-promoting role in PACs and warrants further investigation.
Keywords:
Immunohistochemistry, MMP, Prognosis, Prostate cancer, TIMP
