Purpose: To analyze the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and mean vascular count (MVC) in both serous and mucinous ovarian tumors. The correlation of these markers with clinicopatological characteristics was also evaluated.
Methods: Ninety five paraffin-embedded sections of ovarian tumors were stained for MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF and CD34 using standard immunohistochemistry. The intensity and percentage of positive cells were evaluated using H-score for MMPs and VEGF. The MVC as stained by CD34 (X 400) was also evaluated. Correlations between H-scores of MMP-2, MMP-9 with VEGF H-score were evaluated. The relationships between the above markers with clinicopathological characteristics and the correlations between VEGF with MVC were also studied.
Results: There is a significant increase in H-scores of tumor and stromal cells with the transitions through tumorigenesis phases (P<0.0001 for all markers). Serous tumors showed significantly higher expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 and MVC as compared with mucinous tumors. The expression of all markers was significantly correlated with development of ascites, peritoneal deposits , grading and staging of tumors.
Conclusion: MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF are expressed by both tumor and stromal cells of ovarian tumors and their expressions are associated with the transitions from benign, through borderline, to malignant nature. The above markers are correlated with clinicopathological characteristics.