Abstract: BACKGROUND ＆ AIM: To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and its correlation with tumor proliferative activity and tumor metastasis in human esophageal carcinoma (EC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The expression of MMP-2 and PCNA were detected in 75 cases of EC and 30 cases of controls by immunohistochemical stain (SP method) and their relationship with the clinicopathologic factors was analyzed. RESULTS: The positive rates of MMP-2 and PCNA were 82.7 ％ and 92.0 ％ respectively in EC group. The positive rate of MMP-2 was correlated with the expression of PCNA (r=0.52, P< 0.01). The expression of MMP-2 in EC group was correlated with comvessel invasion,depth of invasion, metastasis of the paraesophageal and distant lymph nodes,but not correlates to age, sex and tumor size(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of MMP-2 in EC is closely related with proliferative activity and tumor metastasis. Expression of MMP-2 might play an important role in the development of EC,and MMP-2 could be a biological marker for evaluating the malignant potential of EC.

Key words: esophageal neplasms, matrix metalloproteinases, proliferative activity, neoplasm metastasis