Matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 expression correlated with cavernous sinus invasion of pituitary adenomas

Object :Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 are important for tissue breakdown in the process of tumor invasion. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9,MIB-1 LI and cavernous sinus invasion in pituitary adenomas. Methods : Tissue samples from54 patients with pituitary adenomas were studied. Expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and MIB-1 labeling index (LI) were evaluated by immunohistochemical method. In sixteen cases, the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA was also examined by RT-PCR assay. Results : Thirty-four patients were women and 20 were men, with a mean age of 49.9 years old (range 18-76 years). There were 12 cases with cavernous sinus invasion, and 42 were noninvasive cases. MMP-2 and MMP-9 score of invasive case (3.9±0.5, 4.1±0.4)were significantly higher than those (2.3±0.2 p＜0.01 2.6±0.2 p＜0.01) without invasion. The MIB-1 LI of this study presented no significantly difference between the invasive and noninvasive pituitary adenomas. The percentage of MMP-2 mRNA/β-actin mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA/β-actin mRNA were also observed significantly higher in invasive pituitary adenomas (68.2±15.3 % 59.7±12.5 %) than noninvasive pituitary adenomas (21.8±8.2 % , p＜0.05 33.3±5.4 % , p＜0.05). Conclusions : Our study suggests that the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 may have a value to assess the invasive pituitary adenomas, and proliferation and invasion of pituitary adenomas may present a different mechanism.