Abstract: Objective  To analyze the expression levels of matrix metallo proteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metallo proteinase-9 (MMP-9) in serum of patients with esophageal cancer, and to analyze the interrelations among MMP-2, MMP-9 and clinicopathologic characteristics of esophageal cancer. Methods  The levels of serum MMP-2, MMP-9 from 60 patients with esophageal cancer were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The interrelations among MMP-2, MMP-9 and clinicopathologic characteristics of esophageal cancer including age, gender, histological type, whether or not lymph nodes metastasis and TNM staging were analyzed.  Results  The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in control group were 61.31 ng/ml and 87.67 ng/ml, the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients with esophageal cancer were 121.66 ng/ml and 169.73 ng/ml. The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly higher in patients with esophageal cancer than that of general population (t=3.015, P=0.007; t=2.037, P=0.04). The level of MMP-2 was significantly associated with whether or not lymph node metastasis (t=2.150, P=0.04) and clinical staging (t=2.186, P=0.03). The level of MMP-9 was significantly associated with whether or not lymph node metastasis (t=2.390, P=0.02) and clinical staging (t=2.149, P=0.03).The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 have no reference to age, gender and histological type (all P>0.05).  Conclusion  MMP-2 and MMP-9 may correlate with tumor invasion and metastasis in patients with esophageal cancer.

Key words: Esophageal neoplasms, Matrix metalloproteinase 2, Matrix metalloproteinase 9