Purpose: To study the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in retinoblastoma (RB) and its relationship with the differentiation and optic nerve infiltration of RB. And to investigate the role of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and VEGF in the infiltration and metastasis of RB and their clinical significance.
Methods: Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the protein expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF in 40 RB cases.
Results: The MMP-2, MMP-9 protein and VEGF protein expression were detected as positive in 52.5%, 57.5% and 72.5% of 40 RB cases respectively. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF was significantly higher in the undifferentiated pattern than in the rosetted pattern (p < 0.05); and the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF was significantly higher in tumors with optic nerve invasion than in those without optic nerve invasion (p < 0.05). In RB, the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 had a positive correlation with the expression of VEGF.
Conclusions: In RB, high expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF is related to the invasion and metastasis of RB. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 is positively correlated with the expression of VEGF. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF may act as a biological marker for the invasion and metastasis of RB. The method may help screen and identify the cases with high risk for metastasis and to predict the prognosis of patients.