Objective: To determine the correlation of the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 with the expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human hepatocellular carcinoma, and their relationship with recurrence, metastasis, and prognosis. Methods: Paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 97 hepatocellular carcinoma cases were subjected to SP immunohisto-chemical staining. The nuclear expression of Bcl-2 as well as the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected. A total of 49 cases had recurrence and metastasis, and the remaining 48 did not. Results: The nuclear expression of Bcl-2 was higher in cases with recurrence and/or metastasis ( t = -2.488, P = 0.015 ). Similarly, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression were higher in cases with recurrence and/or metastasis ( Z = -2.623, P = 0.009; Z = -2.028, P = 0.043 ). The nuclear expression of Bcl-2 was correlated with the expression of MMP-9, but not with that of MMP-2. Patients with positive nuclear expression of Bcl-2 had shorter survival time, and the difference was significant. Conclusion: The nuclear expression of Bcl-2 was significantly correlated with metastasis and MMP-9 expression. Bcl-2 relocation into the nucleus may regulate metastasis-related proteins, which can be used as a clinical marker for evaluating recurrence, metastasis, and prognosis.%目的:探讨抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2、基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)和MMP-9在肝细胞肝癌中表达的关联性,及其与复发、转移和预后的关系.方法:以石蜡包埋组织切片,免疫组织化学SP法染色检测97例肝细胞肝癌,分别在复发与转移组49例和非复发与转移组48例中分析Bcl-2核表达和MMP-2、MMP-9表达的情况.结果:复发与转移组Bcl-2核表达高于无复发与转移组(χ2=7.912,P=0.005),复发转移组MMP-9表达高于无复发转移组(χ2=6.545,P=0.011),Bcl-2核表达阳性细胞率与MMP-9阳性细胞率存在相关性,而与MMP-2无关.Bcl-2核表达组患者生存时间较短,差异具有统计学意义.结论:Bcl-2核表达阳性患者更易出现复发与转移,且与MMP-9过度表达存在关联性,表明Bcl-2入核可能对肿瘤转移的相关生物学功能具有调节作用,可作为评价HCC复发与转移、不良生存预后的候选临床标志.
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