Abstract:Objective To investigate the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins in the stromal fibroblasts in different esophageal lesions from normal tissue, precancerous lesion, to early carcinoma (CIS) and advanced carcinoma (EA). Methods IHC method was uesd to detect the expression of MMP-2 protein and VEGF protein in the stromal fibroblasts and epithelia in different lesions in esophageal carcinogenesis, including normal group (20 cases), low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIEN) group (30 cases), HGIEN group (50 cases), CIS group (25 cases) and EA group (25 cases) respectively. Antibody CD34 was used to label vascular endothelial cells for microvascular density detection. Results In the esophageal stromal fibroblasts of the normal, LGIEN, HGIEN, CIS and EA groups, the positive-expression rates of MMP-2 protein were 0% (0/20), 0% (0/30), 28% (14/50), 40% (10/25) and 60%(15/25) respectively; and the positive-expression rates of VEGF protein were 0.0% (0/20), 3.3% (1/30), 26.0% (13/50), 36.0% (9/25) and 52.0% (13/25) respectively. The positive expression rates of each protein had significant differences among the five groups ( < 0.05). Conclusions With esophageal cancer progression, the interstitial fibroblasts are activated, the secretion of MMP-2 protrein increases, resulting in degradation of the basement membrane and promotion of cancer invasion. Excessive expression of VEGF protein promotes the formation of interstitial capillaries, accelerates cancer progression and metastasis.