Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Numerous previous studies explored the influence of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) expressions on renal cell carcinoma (RCC), yet inconsistent results were reported.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aims to derive a more precise estimation of the associations between MMP-2 and RCC.
METHODS:
A total of 115 patients with RCC were selected; meanwhile, 45 patients with traumatic rupture of renal cysts or renal calculi were recruited and normal kidney tissues were collected as control group. The expression level of MMP-2 protein was detected by using immunohistochemistry. A meta-analysis was performed by using Comprehensive Meta-analysis 2.0 (CMA 2.0).
RESULTS:
The positive expression rate of MMP-2 protein in the RCC tissues was evidently higher than that in the normal renal tissues (P < 0.001). The positive expression rate of MMP-2 protein in patients with tumor size > 5 cm, with lymph node metastasis (LNM), with well-differentiated RCC, and stage III-IV RCC was significantly higher, compared with the patients with tumor size ≤ 5 cm, without LNM, with moderate/low-differentiated RCC, and with stage I-II RCC, respectively (all P < 0.05). There was statistical significance in the 5-year survival rate between the patients with positive MMP-2 protein expression and those with negative MMP-2 protein expression (P = 0.037). These results were further confirmed by the meta-analysis.
CONCLUSION:
MMP-2 protein expression is significantly associated with historical grade, TNM stage, tumor size and LNM in RCC, suggesting that MMP-2 may serve as a biological marker for the prognosis in RCC.