Abstract: BACKGROUND ＆ AIM: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor_C(VEGF_C) and matrix metalloproteinase_9(MMP_9) in cervical carcinoma and explore the roles in cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of VEGF_C and MMP_9 in paraffin samples of 45 cases of cervical carcinoma, 20 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 20 cases of normal cervical tissue. RESULTS: The expression of VEGF_C was significantly higher in carcinoma than that in normal cervical tissue and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.The expression of MMP_9 became stronger and stronger with the progression of cervical diseases from normal tissue to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and to invasive carcinoma of cervix uteri.In cases with pelvic lymph node metastasis,FIGO stagingⅡ,neoplasms with deep muscular invasion the rates of overexpression of VEGF_C and MMP_9 were significantly higher than that in those without deep invasion. CONCLUSION: Both VEGF_C and MMP_9 were involved in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer and measurement of VEGF_C and MMP_9 expression may be developed as a means to evaluate the malignant degree and prognosis of cervical cancer.

Key words: cervical carcinoma, vascular endothelial growth factor_C(VEGF_C), matrix metalloproteinase_9