Expression and Significance of Galectin-3 and MMP-9 protein in cervical carcinoma

Objective To study the expression and significance of Galectin-3 protein and MMP-9 protein in cervical carcinoma. Methods Immunohistochemical sp staining method was used to detect the expression of Galectin-3 protein and MMP-9 protein in 15 cases of normal cervical epithelium,15 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia,and 48 cases of cervical carcinoma.The results were analyzed combining with clinicopathological data. Results The expression of Galectin-3 protein was apparently higher in cervical carcinoma than in normal cervical epithelium and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia,the expression of MMP-9 protein was also apparently higher in cervical carcinoma than in normal cervical epithelium and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01).In cervical carcinoma tissues,the positive expression rate of Galectin-3 protein elevated along with pathologic stage,and the rate in patients with lymphatic metastasis is higher than that in patients without lymph node metastasis,the same tendency was observed for MMP-9 protein,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The positive correlation was also found between Galectin-3 and MMP-9 protein expression in cervical carcinoma(P<0.01). Conclusion The abnormal expression of Galectin-3 and MMP-9 is involved in the cervical carcinoma cells proliferation,malignant transformation,invasion and metastasis.They may play an important role during the occurrence and development of human cervical carcinoma,and the mechanisms need to be further studied.