Abstract:

【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the expressions of heparinase, matrix metalloproteinase 2 （MMP2） and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 （TIMP2） in malignant melanoma lesions and their significance. Methods Skin specimens were obtained from the lesions of 30 patients with malignant melanoma, 30 patients with melanocytic nevus and the normal skin of 15 healthy controls. Immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the protein expression of heparinase, MMP2 and TIMP2. Results The malignant melanoma tissue specimens significantly differed from the melanocytic nevus and control tissue specimens in the expression rate of heparinase （63.33% vs. 6.67% and 0.00, χ2 = 21.172, 27.805, both P < 0.01）, MMP2（70.00% vs. 13.33% and 0.00, χ2 = 19.817, 19.866, both P < 0.01） and TIMP2 （60.00% vs. 6.67% and 0.00, χ2 = 19.200, 15.000, both P < 0.01）. Conclusion The expression of heparinase, MMP2 and TIMP2 is significantly higher in malignant melanoma lesions than in melanocytic nevus lesions and normal skin tissue.

Key words: TIMP2