Objective: To study the function of CD44v6, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and cNOS in the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer and their value in estimating early lymph node metastasis.
Methods: Logistic stepwise regression model was used to analyze the influence of ten clinicopathological factors on the lymph node metastasis in 119 cases of gastric cancer.
Results: Using the established equation to estimate lymph node metastasis, the stronger the CD44v6 expression, the higher the frequency of lymph node metastasis; the frequency of lymph node metastasis was the highest in patients with positive MMP-9 and negative TIMP-1 expression. However, the frequency was the lowest in those with negative MMP-9 and positive TIMP-1 expression and that of positive expression in hemangio-lymphangio-endothelial cells of gastric cancer was relatively high.
Conclusions: The intensity of CD44v6 expression, the imbalance between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expressions and cNOS mRNA expression in the endothelial cells were highly useful for the preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer patients.