Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9, cyclooxygenase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor are increased in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

This study is to investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of MMP-9, COX-2 and VEGF. The expression of MMP-9, COX-2 and VEGF was compared among different clinicopathological features of GIST. Spearman rank correlation analysis was conducted to analyze the correlation among MMP-9, COX-2 and VEGF. The positive expression rates of MMP-9, COX-2 and VEGF were 76.9%, 84.6% and 82.7%. The expression levels of MMP-9, COX-2 and VEGF were significantly different among the clinicopathological features of growth pattern, tumor diameter, metastasis, mitotic count and central necrosis (P < 0.05). Their expression levels were higher in GIST tissues with higher levels of malignancy, tumor size, metastasis, mitotic count and central necrosis. However, their expression levels were not significantly different among age, gender, primary tumor site or CD117 expression. Additionally, there were positive correlations between COX-2 and VEGF (r = 0.612, P < 0.01), between COX-2 and MMP-9 (r = 0.592, P < 0.05), and between MMP-9 and VEGF (r = 0.690, P < 0.01). MMP-9, COX-2 and VEGF expression levels are increased in GIST tissues and related with clinicopathological features of GIST.